The idea of a “legacy letter” or an “ethical will” is not a new concept in the estate planning world. It has long been suggested, urged even, that clients write a letter to accompany their wills and/or trusts.

This is much easier said than done, even for professionals in this industry. So when estate planner and financial representative Tom Weilert sat down to write his own, he turned to his daughter, Michelle, for help.

Her unique background in writing and storytelling along with the study of oral history, and an interest in family heritage, made her ideal for the project. She had long-held the notion of her family as a Northern star of sorts: the compass which she would look to when she needed to set herself straight and find her way again. She was honored to create a permanent record of the legacy her parents, and those who had gone before them, had left to her and her brothers.

This is how the business of creating custom legacy letters came into this world.

We know this can be an intimidating process to begin, which is why we emphasize a personalized interview approach for each client through every step of the process. An award-winning playwright will guide you through the project in order to truly and accurately articulate the legacy you wish to leave behind. A typical project takes about 20-40 hours to complete.

From the start date to the finish, every client is given one year’s time in which to complete the letter to their satisfaction.

Just like every letter will be customized, each process may have slight variation due to the uniqueness of every family. We begin with an interview, which will be tailored to that specific group of people. Once the first interview is transcribed, an initial draft is written and reviewed with the family. At this point, a second interview is conducted while working intimately with the family on editing the letter to accurately reflect the family’s values. After the final interview, there are two more revision periods before the letter is finalized.

The letter acts as an accompaniment to the trust and provides an opportunity for individual family members to share what was truly important to them and put down in writing what they hope was the legacy of their guiding example in life. It also offers a chance to explain the family’s intention behind their trust, infusing the legal and financial aspects with the emotional and philosophical meaning behind them.

The letter leaves a permanent record for loved ones, both now and in future generations, of a family’s story, mission and values in life.

Michelle Weilert graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA, with a degree in playwriting.

While in undergrad, she studied under the mentorship of Beth
Henley (Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter), had her first off-Broadway play (at age 20), and was named “Playwright of the Year” two years in a row, making her the only person in the history of the university to receive such an honor.

Following graduation, she was hired to teach playwriting at her alma mater. Though she would foremost describe herself as a playwright, she is making a name for herself as a writer for television and film as well.

Michelle’s love for storytelling began at a very young age, and her desire to help tell the stories of others has only grown through the years. In 4th grade, she wrote in her diary that she wanted to grow up to be a writer. Every letter she gets to write (and story she gets to tell) helps make that dream a reality.

Connect with Michelle today to find out availability and begin your process...

Click Here Contact Michelle