Diocese of Joliet

You can provide now for a future gift to the Diocese (or parish) by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust.

Your will or trust directs a bequest for the purpose(s) you specify.

The Benefits of a Bequest

Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime.
You can modify your bequest if your circumstances change. You can decide whether we will benefit outright through your will or only after other conditions are met, such as the distribution of bequests to heirs and other loved ones.
You can direct your bequest to a particular purpose; be sure to check with the Diocese or Parish to make sure your gift can be used as intended. (By leaving your gift unrestricted, you leave open many doors of opportunity. Of course, the choice is entirely yours.)
There is no upper limit on the estate tax deductions that can be taken for charitable bequests.
What form should your gift take: You may choose to designate that we receive a specific sum from your estate (for example $5,000), or you may choose to leave a percentage of your estate (for example 5%).
You can give almost any kind of asset through a bequest:
- including cash, securities
- an interest in real estate (such as a residence)
- tangible personal property (such as works of art or antiques)
- the remainder of your IRA, Keogh, tax-sheltered annuity, qualified pension or profit-sharing plan.
You even have the option of “endowing” your gift to provide a lasting financial resource. Because we never spend the principal of an endowed gift, there is always income to support our programs and projects.
You can have the satisfaction now of knowing that when you are gone your memory will live on through your bequest in the way you intended.

When including a provision for us in your will, you will want to make sure that your intention is stated clearly and that you have our correct name and address.
It would be prudent if you or your adviser calls us before drafting the document to ensure that the information you are including is accurate.

Email Fr. Jim Schwab, or call at (815) 834-4030 so that we can assist you and answer your questions.