Creating an Ethical Will: What, Why and How

Everyone has a story to tell. Maybe it’s about our parents, or about how we grew up, or perhaps what happened to us as adults. These stories capture the experiences of our lives, and are undoubtedly filled with lessons about adversity as well as resiliency. More importantly, our stories have the capacity to inspire and teach long after we are gone. An Ethical Will is a document designed to pass ethical values from one generation to the next. Writing an Ethical Will is the way we can help to ensure our stories are told. This Podcast covers the “What,” “Why,” and “How” aspects to the creation of an Ethical Will.   Creating an Ethical Will   This podcast has been created to share the message on why ethical wills are so important, and great to give to those you love. Your host is Scott Zucker, an attorney with over thirty years experience at business and real estate litigation, a published author, certified mediator and noted speaker around the nation.   What Is An Ethical Will? It is NOT a legal document that deals with money or property. An ethical will provides spiritual wealth and a personal message from the writer to their loved ones. It functions as a way for someone to share their values, beliefs, hopes, dreams, and messages from one generation to the next.   How did Scott (Mr. Zucker) become interested in ethical wills? When he lost his parents, he regretted not having their advice on building a successful life, long-term marriage, and how they might have done things differently. He wanted to make sure his children had something in place to use in their present and future, and possibly even pass down to generations to come. His father fought in World War II and wrote about his experiences after, which help share the story of faith and character, and all that he went through, including his ship being struck by kamikaze planes. The passing of information in these writings helped build a foundation of knowing how important it is to share one’s story with loved ones.   Why should I create an ethical will? Everyone has a story to tell, and experiences from their lives, either good, bad, or somewhere in between. Ethical wills can help you impart wisdom and emotional support to inspire and help your loved ones in the future. Another reason is the appreciation and joy that someone feels when they receive something tangible and created personally by the loved one.     How Do I Create an Ethical Will? Ethical Wills can be done in many ways: audio, video, by letter, poetry, painting, music, etc. There is no exact process or correct way to express yourself. What is important is that the intent is authentic and positive. The stories and lessons you want to pass along to loved ones are sometimes the ones you share and express the least. The easiest way to start is to prepare an outline of topics and thoughts about dreams, hopes and values, regrets, and even those you would like to forgive. Once you have the outline, you can fill in the words, create an introduction, and possibly a conclusion.   As a prompt to begin, here are some questions you may want to start thinking of how you would answer. Who are the most influential people during your childhood? What were some of the biggest life changing events? What were some of the biggest challenges you have faced in life? What is the most important piece of advice you would love? What makes you happy? What do you consider your biggest accomplishments besides your family?   It is never too early to begin your ethical will. Take a deep breath, and just start. In this episode we also hear a beautiful song by Mr. Zucker’s late brother Billy, which he considers to be an ethical will and message about how Billy felt about life. To contact Scott Zucker: Scott@wzlegal.com