When most people think about estate planning, they think of wills, trusts, and making sure their money and property go to the right people. And while that’s important, it’s only part of the story.
At Cheever Law, we believe that estate planning isn’t just about transferring your financial assets – it’s about passing on your legacy. That means preserving your family’s values, traditions, stories, and wisdom alongside your wealth.
And we’re not alone in that thinking. A nationwide study by Allianz Life Insurance Company found that 86% of baby boomers and 74% of their heirs agreed: values and life lessons are the most important part of the legacy they want to leave and receive. That study was first conducted in 2005, repeated in 2012, and its findings remain just as relevant today in 2025. No matter what’s happening in the economy, your loved ones will cherish the stories and principles that define who you are far more than any dollar amount.
What Are “Family Values” in Estate Planning?
Family values aren’t just abstract ideas – they’re the heartbeat of your legacy. They include:
- Stories about your childhood, your parents, and the challenges you overcame
- Life lessons and guiding principles you hope your children and grandchildren live by
- Family traditions, recipes, and cultural heritage
- Personal beliefs or spiritual teachings
- Letters of encouragement or love
- Special heirlooms that carry meaning and history
These are the things that too often get lost when someone passes away. Unlike money, which is managed through legal processes, your intangible legacy doesn’t automatically transfer unless you take deliberate steps to preserve it.
How to Pass on More Than Just Money
Incorporating your family values into your estate plan doesn’t have to be complicated. When it’s built into the process from the start, it becomes a natural and powerful part of your planning.
Here are a few simple ways to do this:
- Record Family Stories – Consider writing down or recording audio or video messages for your loved ones. These personal reflections can become treasured keepsakes for generations.
- Write a Legacy Letter – A letter to your family explaining your values, what matters most to you, and your hopes for their future can be incredibly meaningful.
- Identify Heirlooms with Meaning – List the items in your home that carry emotional significance and explain why they matter. This helps ensure they’re cherished, not just distributed.
- Create a Heritage Schedule – In addition to your asset schedule, you can create a separate “Heritage Schedule” listing personal possessions and the stories behind them.
Making It Happen
Most estate planning attorneys – and certainly online forms – don’t offer a way to capture and preserve your legacy beyond the legal documents. That’s where we do things differently.
At our firm, we guide you through a Life & Legacy Planning Session, where we help you uncover what truly matters to you and ensure it’s preserved in a meaningful and lasting way. We’ll help you document your family’s unique story and values so your legacy lives on in full.
When you come in for your planning session, we’ll send you a Life and Legacy Inventory & Assessment to get you thinking – not just about what you own, but what you value. It’s a powerful first step toward a plan that’s about more than just avoiding probate or minimizing taxes. It’s about creating peace of mind, honoring your story, and giving your loved ones the gift of knowing who you are, even after you’re gone.
Want to Start Your Legacy Plan?
At Cheever Law, APC, we don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death for yourself and the people you love, starting with a valuable and educational Life & Legacy Planning Session. This will allow you to get more financially organized and make the best choices for the people you love. If you have already completed your estate plan, we will review that plan at your Life & Legacy Planning Session to ensure that it will work the way you intend and address any holes or gaps that may be present if circumstances have changed since you executed your plan.
To learn more about our one-of-a-kind systems and services, contact us or schedule a no-obligation 15-minute introductory phone call today.