National Association of Estate Planners and Councils

National Estate Planning Awareness Week
October 21 - 27, 2024


For Media

Are you in need of expert input for an upcoming article?  Reach out to a member of the 2022 National Estate Planning Awareness Week Media Referral List.


For Councils

National Estate Planning Awareness Week was adopted in 2008 to help the public understand what estate planning is and why it is such a vital component of financial wellness.  Assisted by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and 49 additional members of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 1499 named National Estate Planning Awareness Week on September 27, 2008.  > Read a full copy of the resolution text

NAEPC’s goal is to work with affiliated local councils to reach every American annually with a reminder about the need for estate planning.  It is our hope our councils will host education events, call-in phone banks, and seminars each and every October to help spread the word:  YOU need estate planning TOO!

As leaders in the estate planning community, your members have first-hand experience with the challenges Americans face with regard to saving, investing, and planning for their future.  As an estate planning council, you have the ability to make a significant impact in your home community.
 

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is also a perfect time to spread awareness about your council to prospective members.  Consider a campaign during this week to share your council's message with prospective members, diverse professionals, or other qualified candidates.  

Quick Start Kit

Does your council want to do something for National Estate Planning Awareness Week, but isn't quite ready to jump in to an in-person event?  We have the answer!  Download our "Quick Start" kit*, an informational packet developed for estate planning councils affiliated with NAEPC that provides the most basic information about National Estate Planning Awareness Week.  It’s perfect for those councils that wish to participate in National Estate Planning Awareness Week without planning an in-person program.  The materials within can be used “as-is” or modified to meet the needs of your council. 
*This document can also be obtained in a Word format by contacting NAEPC.

Planning a Community Outreach Event

NAEPC is pleased to offer its estate planning councils an “Estate Planning Day in a Box” kit to help councils get started planning a community outreach event.  Within you will find materials to assist in organizing and forming the foundation for a successful Estate Planning Day.  The startup process, or Phase I, is the most critical and important phase of the planning as it is the mainstay of developing a successful event. Download your copy today*!
*This document can also be obtained in a Word format by contacting NAEPC.

Consumer Videos

New in 2022, NAEPC has teamed up with profession leader Martin M. Shenkman, LawEasy, and several guests to provide our councils and members with access to short videos dedicated to consumers.  You are welcome to share these videos with clients, colleagues, and the like as you wish leading up to and during National Estate Planning Awareness Week.  

The first video in the series, "What is Estate Planning?", follows:

Other videos:


For the Public

Estate planning encompasses the growth, conservation, and transfer of an individual’s wealth through the creation and maintenance of an “estate plan.”   The purpose of estate planning is to develop a strategy that will maintain the financial security of individuals through their lifetime and ensure the intended transfer of their property and assets at death, while taking into consideration the unique circumstances of the family and the potential costs of different methods.  All too often, we hear:

  • "I'm too young to do estate planning."
  • "All my property is titled in joint tenancy with my spouse so I don't need a will."
  • "Estate planning is only for the super-rich."
  • "Estate planning is too complicated and expensive."
  • "Doesn't the government provide for that?"
  • "We did our wills right after we got married 30 years ago and see no need for further planning."

If you seek advice and guidance with regard to your estate planning needs, please view our website and search for an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) or Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) designation holder in your area. These practitioners have taken steps to further the requirements of their primary discipline by obtaining and maintaining professional designations backed by ongoing continuing education, ethics, membership, and maintenance requirements. If you don't find the type of professional you are looking for, we recommend contacting one of the designees you see listed for a referral.  As an additional resource, you may wish to contact an estate planning council in your community for a referral. 

You may also wish to view our brochure, A Consumer's Guide to Collaborative Estate Planning.

Best wishes!

NAEPC