• Bio

Manya Deva Natan

Manya Deva Natan is a California Bar Certified attorney with the law firm of SSS Legal & Consultancy Services located in Calabasas, CA. Her practice focuses on International Estates, Trusts and Estates, Asset Protection, Trust Administration, and more. Manya received her law degree from Stanford University, as well as a Master's in International Affairs from Columbia University. She has completed extensive course-work and training in the areas of mental, physical, and emotional health, including being a published author. She is the founder of two publishing-based companies related to health and wellness and has particular interest in the legal and financial components of health and their importance in integrated health. She has appeared multiple times on Good Morning America and is regularly contacted by national media outlets for commentary.

Many people today are choosing to have two wills. One will is a traditional will that decrees how property should be divided. The other will is called an ethical will. It passes down life advice and wisdom.

Ethical wills are not a new concept. They have their roots in ancient Jewish tradition. They also resemble the time honored tradition of writing words of wisdom for future generations.

The basic idea is that as we age we do not just accumulate property that needs to be passed on to future generations. We also accumulate life lessons and wisdom that would be helpful to pass on too.

Life Health Pro published a list of reasons that people should consider ethical wills titled, “6 reasons every advisor needs an ethical will.”

The list includes:

• To provide a vehicle by which you can leave something behind and be remembered.
• Document history and stories from which others can learn.
• To help clarify your values before you pass them on.
• Increase your own self-awareness and understanding.
• Allows you to accept past mistakes and come to terms with your own mortality.
• Gives you a sense of completion and accomplishment.

If those sound like goals that you are interested in, then you should consider making an ethical will a part of your estate plan. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that an ethical will can replace the rest of your estate plan.