Legacy Folder

Many years ago, in a financial seminar, I was introduced to the idea of a legacy folder. I recognized it as a good idea from the start. It is a folder where you collect all the important documents your family will need if something happens to you and a place for you to write down helpful instructions for them to carry out your final wishes.

Throughout my ministry as a pastor, I've had the privilege of supporting numerous grieving families. It’s disheartening to see how often children and spouses are left in the dark about basic financial information needed to settle the estate. Equally concerning is the fact that many families never get around to discussing final wishes, leaving loved ones unsure of how to proceed.

In addition to these practical things, there are more important issues. Theology matters in every area of life. If you are a Christian, then every moment of your life since the day God saved you has been governed by what you believe. Your faith and theology should also govern your funeral and burial plans and estate settlement. Communicating your wishes beforehand will help your family honor you and your faith.

Writing your testimony is the most important thing you will do while putting together this folder. Give your greatest attention to this section. Including your testimony in this folder is an opportunity to give a treasured gospel witness to the generations that follow you. You may also want to share your testimony with the pastor that you wish to preach your funeral.

Putting together a legacy folder takes a while, so take your time.

You can order a physical legacy folder from my resources page. PDF and MS Word downloads are also available.

I would appreciate any feedback about how I can improve the legacy folder. Please click the feedback button to let me know what you think.