Your Legacy & Green Estate Planning: Eco-Friendly Options
As You’re Estate Planning, How Often Do You Think About Your Legacy?
Considering your legacy is an important part of estate planning
As we humans continue to become more eco-conscious — albeit slowly — and the concern for the health of the earth and for the effect our actions have on future generations continues to grow, many people have a desire to align the values that guide the way they live with the way they invest and with how they make their exit from this beautiful earth. They want their eco-friendly values to be part of the legacy they leave for their heirs.
As these ideas take root and expand, I work with more clients requesting estate plans that include eco-friendly options. I provide a brief overview of two popular options here. The first is Green Burial and the second is Socially Responsible Investing (SRI).
Green Burial
Green burial is an option that is rapidly growing in popularity. First, let me explain what it is. According to the Green Burial Council, a nonprofit business organization, to provide certification for qualifying providers. Green burial is “a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.”
https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/greenburialdefined.html
Unlike conventional-lawn cemeteries that require concrete or plastic vaults or liners, allow embalmed bodies, and allow exotic wood or metal caskets, natural burial grounds, cemeteries, and preserves all seek to bury without impediment. That means no embalming, no liners or vaults, and using biodegradable containers, whether caskets, shrouds or nothing at all. These cemeteries are operated by a variety of owners: municipal governments, religious groups, individuals, nonprofits, for-profits, and others.
Socially Responsible Investing
Now, can you imagine that it’s possible for your financial investments to create much more than a financial legacy? Imagine that your investments leave behind a world where future generations thrive, courtesy of your thoughtful estate planning. Socially Responsible Investing is no longer a distant dream. It is an investing philosophy where investors take companies environmental, social, and corporate governance factors (ESG) into account. And it is reshaping the landscape of estate planning and establishing socially responsible values for future generations.
Eco-Friendly Estate Planning
If you would like to align the guiding values you live by with how you make your exit while leaving a financial legacy that includes the well-being of the planet in your estate plan, give my office a call at (470) 235-7868.
Looking to find an experienced estate lawyer in the Georgia area who is skilled in asset protection and estate plan preparation? Shannon Pawley is an attorney in Georgia with expertise in estate planning and asset protection. Shannon can provide assistance with creating an estate plan to include making a will and how to establish a trust properly. If you have questions about asset protection or questions about making an estate plan, reach out to Shannon and she will be glad to help answer all the estate planning questions you might have!