This guest post is from Audra Jones, Regent Law 2L:
Many
modern-day Americans are sitting down with their attorneys to draft their wills
this very day. Their will determines where all their assets go after passing
away. It is comprised of papers infused with legal jargon that one’s relatives
will likely by pass to see exactly what was given to them. For something that
is one’s only chance to talk to his or her loved ones beyond the grave, it is
usually a document with little love attached and often stirs up resentment among
those given or not given one’s estate. While reading this, consider whether a
will can be more…
In
biblical times, a will, or at least an oral will as scholars assert was mentioned
in the story of Jacob who had twelve sons. As he lay dying, Jacob called his
sons together to bless and prophesy over them. This
act was the beginning of Jewish ethical wills also known as "tzava'ot."
Traditionally, these ethical wills were written and included Jewish values and traditions,
historic moments of one’s family, and peaceful blessings to one’s family and to
those benefiting from the deceased in their pages. Today,
ethical wills are still used in Jewish communities and have many of the
same elements but are separate documents from legal wills that most write.
As
for non-Jewish culture today, ethical wills or even legal wills with any
hopeful message seem lost because of people’s lack of awareness of passing on
more than their assets upon their death. For Americans of a non-Jewish heritage,
this unawareness was not always the case as demonstrated by American Founders such
as Patrick
Henry whose will communicated that, although he could only give his family a small
and meager inheritance, he knew that “[t]he religion of Christ can give [his
family] one which will make them rich indeed.” He espoused his religion and
belief in something beyond earthly possessions to comfort his family.
So for the person reading this article and all modern-day Americans of various religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds, consider your legacy and how you want your last words to your family and those receiving parts of your estate to be when you draft your will. Will your will show your love? By way of ethical or legal will, will it promote hope and blessings and bring comfort to others?
Essentially, will your will be more than what a will has come to be in this modern age? May it bring love and peace to your family.
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