National Estate Planning Awareness Week
October 20 - 26, 2025
National Estate Planning Awareness Week occurs during the third full week of October each year and was adopted in 2008 by the House of Representatives to help the public understand what estate planning is and why it is such a vital component of financial wellness.
As leaders in the estate planning community, your members have first-hand experience with the challenges Americans face saving, investing, and planning for their future. As an estate planning council, you can make a significant impact in your home community by hosting community outreach events in conjunction with National Estate Planning Awareness Week. It is also a great time to spread awareness about your council to prospective members. Consider a campaign during this week to share your council's message with prospective members, diverse professionals, or other qualified candidates.
Quick Start Guide
Does your council want to do something for National Estate Planning Awareness Week, but isn't quite ready to jump in to an in-person event? Download the "Quick Start" Guide, an informational packet developed for estate planning councils affiliated with NAEPC that provides the most basic information about National Estate Planning Awareness Week. The materials within can be used “as-is” or modified to meet the needs of your council.
*This document can also be obtained in a Word format by contacting NAEPC.
Planning a Community Outreach Event
NAEPC is pleased to offer its estate planning councils an “Estate Planning Day in a Box” kit to help councils get started planning a community outreach event. Within you will find materials to assist in organizing and forming the foundation for a successful Estate Planning Day. The startup process, or Phase I, is the most critical and important phase of the planning as it is the mainstay of developing a successful event. Download your copy today*!
*This document can also be obtained in a Word format by contacting NAEPC.
Estate planning encompasses the growth, conservation, and transfer of an individual’s wealth through the creation and maintenance of an “estate plan.” The purpose of estate planning is to develop a strategy that will maintain the financial security of individuals through their lifetime and ensure the intended transfer of their property and assets at death, while taking into consideration the unique circumstances of the family and the potential costs of different methods.
If you seek advice and guidance with regard to your estate planning needs, please view our website and search for an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) or Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) designation holder in your area. These practitioners have taken steps to further the requirements of their primary discipline by obtaining and maintaining professional designations backed by ongoing continuing education, ethics, membership, and maintenance requirements. If you don't find the type of professional you are looking for, we recommend contacting one of the designees you see listed for a referral. As an additional resource, you may wish to contact an estate planning council in your community for a referral.
You may also wish to view our brochure, A Consumer's Guide to Collaborative Estate Planning.
NAEPC teamed up with Martin M. Shenkman, LawEasy, and several guests during 2022 to provide access to short videos dedicated to consumers. You are welcome to view these videos as a consumer or share them with with clients, colleagues, and the like as you wish.
National Estate Planning Awareness Week creates an opportunity for companies and nonprofits alike to raise awareness about the importance of estate planning within their community and among donors and potential donors. We encourage you to consider press releases, articles, and/or teaming up locally to host consumer-focused events. A wealth of resources are also available by a simple internet search of "National Estate Planning Awareness Week."
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