Create your ‘FreeWill’ during Make-A-Will Month

The Upper Iowa University community has always been committed to UIU’s future, and now it wants to help secure the future for all the people it shares an equal admiration for. Since April 2020, 127 Peacock family members have utilized the FreeWill service. This intuitive, online will-writing tool that allows anyone to produce a legally binding will in about 20 minutes—and it’s completely free to use. As everyone continues to endure a global health pandemic, UIU is proud to offer this service to alumni because of the importance it is to have future plans in place.

How has your life changed? Did you move to a new town or city? Are you a new parent, grandparent, or pet-parent? Are you more grateful for the people and communities that have made your life special? Whether you’ve never made a will at all or need to update yours, why not start now?

August is “Make-A-Will Month” and here are three easy steps to complete your will:
1. Fill out online – Visit freewill.com/uiu to get started. It only takes 20 minutes to fill out the information needed to create your last will and testament.
2. Print out forms – The information you provide is combined with the precise language of FreeWill legal forms, and provided back to you as a printable will.
3. Sign and keep safe – To make your will official, sign and initial the document in person with your witnesses. Keep your new will somewhere safe but accessible.

Here are what a couple alumni, who have used the FreeWill service, have said:

“FreeWill was easy to use and I’m thankful UIU made this resource available. This task is important, but oftentimes overlooked.” – Jessica Gonzalez-Gallardo ’20

“I enjoyed the FreeWill site and thought it was very easy to navigate.” – Nikki Riha ’09

Those who have included UIU in their estate plans or have made some other type of planned gift commitment are recognized and honored with membership to the elite UIU Heritage Society. These members believe in UIU’s mission and want to ensure the University’s valuable educational programs and services will continue for future generations. If UIU is named in an estate plan, it is beneficial for the University to know in order to carry out the individual’s specific charitable intentions.

To learn more about FreeWill or the UIU Heritage Society, visit uiu.eduheritagesociety or contact UIU Vice President for External Affairs Andrew Wenthe at wenthea@uiu.edu or 563-425-5348.