ESTATE PLANNING

note: the forms will be available soon.

Preserve the History of the Los Angeles County Fire Department for Future Generations:

The Legacy Membership

The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association is pleased to offer a very special membership to those who would consider the Museum in their Planned Gifts. This is the Legacy Membership and is available to all who bequest $5000 or above in their estate planning.

The Legacy Member is a special group of friends of the Museum who have included the Museum in their estate or financial plans.

If you have included the Museum in your plans, it would be our pleasure to welcome you with a Legacy Membership. Simply complete the Legacy Member Intent form and send it attention: Planned Giving. And, of course, you may always choose to join and remain anonymous.

You may provide the information on your planning by the online form or by downloading the following PDF. The PDF maybe mailed in.

Onlne Legacy Member Donor Intent Form: fill this in online and submit by electronic signature

Legacy Member Donor Intent Form: Download, print, and fill this in. Mail your completed form to the Museum address below:

Los Angeles County Fire Museum Legacy Membership
9834 Flora Vista Street
Bellflower, CA 90706

As you design your gift in your estate plans, our legal name is the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association and our tax ID number is 33-0294-056.

This donor intent form notifies us of your interest in donating to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum. It is not a binding contract.

Giving Through a Will, Living Trust, and Other Plans

In addition to filling an important role in providing for the future financial security of your family and others, your will or living trust can offer a way to make thoughtful charitable gifts as part of your long-range estate and financial plans. It can be satisfying to know that a portion of your property will be put to good use in the future.

A gift made through a will or living trust can be convenient to arrange. A simple provision or amendment prepared by your attorney at the time you make or update your will or trust is all that is necessary. Gifts included in wills and living trusts are popular because they are flexible, easy to arrange, and may be changed with your life circumstances.

Ways to Give Through Wills and Trusts

  • Make a gift of a specific amount. A gift of a particular amount may be designated for general use or to fund a special need.
  • Provide for a gift of a particular property. Real estate, stocks, and other items of value are examples of properties that can be used to fund charitable bequests.
  • Designate that a percentage of your estate be given to The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association through your will or living trust.
  • Donate the remainder, or residual, of your estate—that is, what remains after all other bequests to friends and loved ones are satisfied.
  • Name charitable interests to receive a bequest in the event other heirs are not there to receive their legacies.

There are no limits on amounts deductible from federal gift and estate taxes for charitable gifts made by will or trust, so no tax will be due on assets given in this way.

To plan a charitable bequest, inform your attorney of your wishes and ask for advice regarding the best form for your gift.

If you decide to include a gift in your estate plans, our legal name is the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association and our tax ID number is 33-0294-056.

Other Ways to Give Through Your Estate

Many have life insurance or retirement plans with significant balances. In some cases, these assets total more than is needed for a comfortable retirement, and could give rise to future income and estate taxes.

In that case, it may be wise to consider using these funds to make gifts to benefit The County of Los Angeles  Fire Museum now or in the future. Contact your life insurance professional or retirement plan administrator for ways to make gifts from these resources today. A simple change of beneficiary form may be all that is required to provide for a gift of life insurance proceeds or what remains in a retirement account. As in the case of gifts through wills and revocable living trusts, such gifts can be arranged to take place only if loved ones predecease you, or in the event of other circumstances you specify.

Your retirement plan administrator or your life insurance professional can also provide more details upon request.

Options Using Bank and Investment Accounts

Many people have bank and investment accounts that they would like to leave directly to family, friends, the County of  Los Angeles Fire Museum or other charitable interests at the end of their lifetime. This can often be accomplished using a “pay on death” (P.O.D.) provision for a bank account or a CD or a “transfer on death” (T.O.D.) provision for certain other investment accounts. Simply ask your bank manager or officer of your financial advisor for the appropriate form. You retain full ownership and access to the funds during your lifetime and the person or charity only receives what is left in the account.

Suggested Language for Making a Bequest to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association

You may include a bequest to support the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association when preparing your will or by adding a codicil to your present will. Bequests may be of cash, securities, real estate or other property. Bequests of all sizes are welcome, whether they are outright, contingent or residual.

Your request should be directed to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association. The following language may be useful to your attorney:

Specific Bequest – “I give The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association, Bellflower, California, 90706, the sum of $__________ to be used for the general support of the The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum.”

Residual Bequest – “I give The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association, Bellflower, California, 90706, _______ percent of the residue of my estate to be used for the general support of The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum.”

Contingent Bequest – “In the event that ______________________ predeceases me, I give The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association, Bellflower, California, 90706, the sum of $___________(or, alternatively, __________ percent of the residue of my estate) to be used for the general support of The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum.”

Please note: This information is not intended to be legal or tax advice. We recommend that you consult with a qualified estate planning attorney when drafting your will.

Legacy Member Donor Intent Form

This donor intent form notifies us of your interest in donating to The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association. It is not a binding contract.

TheCounty of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All, or a portion, of your donation may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.