Protecting Your Legacy: Why We Urge You to Share Your Estate Plans

Have you included the NRA or an affiliated charity in your estate plan? If so, thank you. Your commitment helps safeguard the Second Amendment for future generations. But to fully honor your intentions, we strongly encourage you to share a copy of your plans with us. And if you haven’t included the NRA but have named other charities in your estate plan, we encourage you to notify them of your intentions as well.

Why? Because we’ve seen firsthand how easily well-meaning gifts can go unfulfilled, sometimes due to a simple oversight, other times because of outright deception.

In one recent case, a loyal donor named the NRA as the sole beneficiary of his estate, excluding his estranged sibling. He even shared an excerpt of two pages of his will with us, confirming his intent. Tragically, when he passed away, his sister, who had been critical of the Second Amendment and the values he stood for, was named as executor. She claimed no will existed, and because the court had no record of one and we only had two of the pages, the estate defaulted to state intestate law. The result? His sister inherited everything. The NRA received nothing. That was not his intent.

Contrast that with another case where a donor left half his estate to the NRA and half to another nonprofit. Unfortunately, both his named executor and backup had passed away before him, so there was no one to administer his estate. But, under the law, the beneficiaries have the right to select a new executor.  And because he told us about his plans in advance, we were able to act. The NRA is now working with the other nonprofit to probate the will.  Had the donor not informed the NRA of his generous gift, we would never have known to contact the other beneficiary and begin the probate process.

Your legacy deserves protection. Sharing your estate documents with us—confidentially—helps ensure your gift is carried out as intended. We can also review your plans to avoid technical issues that may otherwise put your wishes at risk. And as a service to our Heritage Society members, we offer confidential storage of an extra copy of your estate plans so you never have to wonder if your wishes can be fulfilled.

To share your plans, email us. Your information will be handled with complete discretion. To explore ways to include the NRA or an affiliated charity in your estate plans, visit www.nraplannedgiving.org.

Disclaimer: Consult your legal, tax, or financial advisor to determine the best strategy for your unique situation. The NRA and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advisory services. As with any financial decision, talk to your financial advisor for details relevant to your personal situation.