Success StoryEstate Planning



Estate Planning

Author: Joanna Coles

Planning Unit: Warren County CES

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Plan of Work: Ag Awareness, Marketing & Leadership 2024

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Farmers are in the legacy business, wanting to pass the farming operation to the next generation.   However, only 30% of those farms succeed to the next generation and only 12% to the third generation.  Estate planning is an essential tool to help increase this statistic.  The Warren County Extension Council identified estate planning as a priority topic because only 33 percent of Americans have an estate plan. A committee was formed to plan and conduct the program to increase that number in our community.   A one-night educational program was developed featuring guest speakers: Kevin Kirby, Kirby Funeral Homes and Warren County Coroner, Josh Wilson, Southern Farm Bureau Estate Planner, and Lile McQinn, Estate Planning Attorney.  Seventy-three individuals attended the meeting, and 100% increased their knowledge of the estate planning process. Seventy-three percent intend to update or create a will. The participants went home with worksheets and fillable documents for end-of-life planning, essential documents, and legal services overview.  Follow-up educational information was requested by the participants and the committee will plan future educational activities. 








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