A Bequest

A will is perhaps the easiest and the most common way of planning an estate, and yet 70 percent of people die without one. A will allows you to designate an executor for your estate, name a guardian for minor children, and dispose of property to whomever you choose. Without a will, the state will decide what happens to your children and property.

Many people choose to include charities in their wills. A charitable bequest can help you support a worthy cause even after you are gone. Your gift can be unrestricted, allowing Stephens to use it for our greatest needs, or restricted for scholarships, endowment, or some other area of Stephens you wish to support.

A gift through your will can take the form of a set amount of money, a percentage of an estate, a specific asset, or a trust. Below is some sample language for including Stephens in your estate plans.

Sample Bequest Language:

"I give, devise and bequeath (state amount, asset or percentage of the estate) to Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, to be used (describe use) or as the College's governing board deems appropriate."