Estate Planning

 You may have important family items that you would prefer to keep during your lifetime, however, it is important to consider what will happen to these items after your death. LHM suggests the following considerations to help you decide what to do.

Do you have children or other family members who would potentially receive these items? If you answered yes to this question, the next important consideration is whether or not your children or other family will consider what you have to be important. We ask this question, because sometimes passing important family memorabilia on is not the best solution. You should consider whether these items will be properly cared for to ensure that they will last for generations to come. This question would result in a different answer in all families, but is a very important one to consider. If you answered no to the question above, please keep in mind that if you do not designate where you want these items to go, they may end up in an auction, and then lost forever.

If you have any doubts about whether your family history will be taken care of, we would invite you to consider leaving these items to LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. This could include photographs, framed portraits, diaries, letters, antique clothing or furniture, and any other item that is important to your family.

You may leave specific items, or entire estates to LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. by simply including us in your will. If you wish to donate in this way, please send us a letter describing your intentions, so that we can thank you for your donation.  

The easiest way to leave a lasting gift to LHM is by including us in your will. A bequest is as simple as it is powerful; with a few words in your will, you can continue to support the preservation and education efforts of LHM beyond your lifetime. Chances are even after you have made adequate provisions for your family and friends, you can have a bigger impact than you ever thought possible — and you don't have to be wealthy to do it!   Best of all, when you make a bequest, you will have the good feeling of having done something significant to help preserve the history of your ancestors or your community — and you'll never see the difference in your bank balance. No other kind of donation gives you this privilege. We suggest that you discuss the possibilities with your attorney or financial planner. 

If you are already prepared to name LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. in your will you'll need a few simple facts about us: Legal Name: LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. Address: Available on Request. Federal Tax ID: Available on Request. The gift can be declared in a number of ways. Here are some of the common ways to phrase your intentions:    

Percentage of Estate I give to LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc., currently of [fill in current address], ___% of my estate to be used in such a manner as the Board of Directors of LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. shall, in its sole discretion, determine.

Fixed Amount I give to LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc., currently of [fill in current address], the sum of $___ to be used in such a manner as the Board of Directors of LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. shall, in its sole discretion, determine.

Residue of Estate (after probate costs and other expenses)  I give to LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc., currently of [fill in current address], ___% of the rest and residue of my estate to be used in such a manner as the Board of Directors of LeRoy Heritage Museum, Inc. shall, in its sole discretion, determine.   

There are a number of other ways to provide for the future of LeRoy Heritage Museum. Some other methods include Charitable Trusts, Life Insurance Gifts, and Retirement Plan Gifts. Consult your financial planner for more information.