Talking about wills, funeral plans, and medical directives is not easy, but on Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer and Preston Allex showed why this kind of preparation is one of the most practical and loving gifts Catholics can leave behind.

Preston, chief financial officer of Relevant Radio and president of Catholic Legacy, explained that Catholic Legacy is a free ministry of Relevant Radio created to help people prepare important estate-planning documents in a way that is simple, accessible, and faithful to Catholic teaching. The platform currently offers four main tools: a will, a Catholic health care directive, a funeral planner, and a digital account keeper.

One of the most important resources is the Catholic health care directive, created with help from the National Catholic Bioethics Center. Preston explained that it helps Catholics make legally binding decisions in advance, while also ensuring their wishes are guided by the Faith. That includes naming someone to make medical decisions, clarifying treatment preferences, requesting a chaplain, and even specifying the desire to receive last rites. Doug noted how important that can be, especially when family members may not share the person’s faith or understand the seriousness of those final spiritual needs.

The funeral planner is another key tool. It allows families to document everything from readings and music for the Funeral Mass to practical details like the funeral home, cemetery, and luncheon. Preston emphasized that this matters especially now, as many Catholic families are drifting away from funeral Masses and traditional burial. Having a plan in place can help ensure that a person’s Catholic wishes are known and followed, while also sparing loved ones from making difficult decisions during a time of grief.

Catholic Legacy also includes a digital account keeper, which helps people record where their accounts, loans, subscriptions, and assets are located. In an age when so much financial information is paperless, this kind of document can save families enormous stress after a death or serious illness. As Doug pointed out, in the past you could often figure out a person’s finances by sorting through the mail. Today, important information can be almost impossible to track down without a clear record.

Preston stressed that everything on Catholic Legacy is free because the ministry wants to remove barriers and help families get started. While it does not replace an attorney, it gives people a strong foundation and makes it easier to take the next step. More than that, it helps prevent confusion, family conflict, and unnecessary suffering.

As Doug and Preston made clear, planning ahead is not just about documents. It is about stewardship, protecting your family, and living your Catholic Faith with love and responsibility, even to the very end.

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