Create Your Will for Free and Support Smithsonian Institution In Partnership with User Login Create Your Legacy Support the Smithsonian Email *Email is Required Password Provide a summary of your gift(s) *Provide a summary of your gift(s) is Required Source *Source is Required hidden field hidden field hidden field Password must be 12 or more characters. Please check your email to continue Get Started Your free estate plan from Giving Docs Photo credit: Eric Long Join our friends and supporters on Giving Docs' estate planning platform to plan your legacy, compliments of the Smithsonian Institution. Get Started Your free estate plan from Giving Docs Create Your LEGACY in 3 Simple Steps 1 Assign Gifts to Important People and Causes 2 Select Trusted People (Executors and Guardians) 3 Sign With Witnesses While the Smithsonian Institution covers the cost of providing this service, Giving Docs is an independent third-party platform, completely separate from the Smithsonian Institution. Its services are provided without review from the Smithsonian Institution, and the Smithsonian Institution is not liable for its use. Giving Docs is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Your use of the platform is subject to Giving Docs' Terms of Service, which we encourage you to review. Get Started Your free estate plan from Giving Docs Our Values Aligned Many Smithsonian Institution supporters have chosen to advance the values that have been most important in their lives by providing a gift through their will. Regardless of the size of your gift, you can now provide funding to help support all that you know and love about Smithsonian for years to come. The Smithsonian Institution is pleased to offer its supporters free access to an estate planning service through Giving Docs. Giving Docs, an independent online platform, makes it simple to support the loved ones and causes you care most about by leaving gifts through your will, as well as through other ways of designating a gift. Once you're done, you can revise or update your documents for free at any time using the Giving Docs platform. You are not required to leave a gift to Smithsonian in order to use Giving Docs. Get Started Your free estate plan from Giving Docs Frequently Asked Questions I have already included a gift to Smithsonian Institution in my will or other plan. How do I let you know? + Thank you so much for including a gift to Smithsonian Institution. You can use this simple form to tell us about your gift! What is a will? + Your Last Will and Testament is a formal document that specifies your wishes when you pass away. If you do not have a will, state law will determine how your belongings, children, and pets are placed among your living family. Is this will legally binding? + Giving Docs advises that a completed will is not legally binding until it has been signed and executed in accordance with the laws of your state of residence. Giving Docs will give you detailed instructions on how to do so in order to ensure that your will carries out your wishes. Giving Docs securely keeps your information in your profile so that you can quickly and easily update your will whenever you need to. The standard will document you create on the Giving Docs website incorporates typical estate planning needs. If you have a complicated estate with multiple properties and complex assets, or would like to discuss alternative planned giving vehicles, we recommend consulting an attorney and/or financial advisor. How much will it cost? + This offer is free to you, compliments of Smithsonian Institution. Is Smithsonian Institution preparing my will? + No. While Smithsonian Institution covers the cost of providing this service to our supporters, Giving Docs is an independent third-party platform, completely separate from Smithsonian Institution. Its services are provided without review from Smithsonian Institution, and Smithsonian Institution is not liable for its use. Giving Docs is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Your use of the platform is subject to Giving Docs' Terms of Service, which we encourage you to review. Where is my will valid? + Giving Docs states a will from Giving Docs is valid in all 50 states and the District of Columbia if it has been signed and executed in accordance with the laws of your state of residence. If you live outside of the U.S., please contact Smithsonian Institution for additional information. Can I add other important organizations? + Yes. Giving Docs makes it easy to leave gifts to all of your favorite organizations. Giving Docs will prompt you to leave a percentage of your estate to your favorite charity, but you are not required to leave a gift in order to create a will through Giving Docs. I already have a will, but I want to start from scratch. Can I use Giving Docs to create a new will? + Yes, you can use Giving Docs to create a new will. Be sure to have it executed per the laws in your state. I already have a will, but I want to leave a gift to Smithsonian Institution. Can I update my will using a codicil? + Yes, Giving Docs offers the opportunity to leave a gift without altering your existing will through a codicil. You can access the codicil platform directly. I already have a will. Will Giving Docs help me create a financial power of attorney? + Create your financial power of attorney directly here. Is my data private? + Smithsonian Institution does not share your personal information with Giving Docs. Giving Docs only receives the information that you provide to them, when you activate your Giving Docs account. Giving Docs' Terms of Service prohibits the sale or rental of user names or other personal information. When creating your account with Giving Docs, you will be asked if you would like to share your contact information with any charities for which you leave a gift. If you choose to share your contact information, the charity will receive your contact information and note about your planned gift, as agreed upon. No other data will be shared with the charity. If you do not wish to share any information at all, you can choose to remain anonymous. If you choose to remain anonymous, the charity will not receive any identifying information. Am I committed to leaving a gift? + You are not required to leave a gift to Smithsonian Institution or any other organization in order to create a will. And any bequest provision you include is revocable. It can be changed at any time for any reason. Simply log back into your account to update your will, and follow the instructions for signatures and notarizations. How can this be offered at no cost to me? + Offering access to Giving Docs is one way Smithsonian Institution gives back to people like you who help create lasting impact every day. It's simply our way of saying thank you. Trusted by nonprofits nationwide, Giving Docs helps supporters plan wisely and give meaningfully, because everyone deserves access to the tools they need to plan for the future and protect what matters most. Get Started Your free estate plan from Giving Docs