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Benefits Spotlight

Wills Month 2026

More Than Life Insurance, Valuable Estate Planning and Estate Resolution Benefits Through MetLife

*Upcoming Virtual Workshop: MetLife will be hosting ‘Find Out Why Everyone Needs Some Type of Estate Plan” on August 4, from 11 - 12 PM. Register here.

August is Make-A-Will Month. When most people think about life insurance, they think about the financial protection it provides to loved ones after a loss. However, employees enrolled in MetLife Supplemental Term Life Insurance also have access to valuable legal and estate-planning services that can help protect themselves and their families now and in the future.

At no additional cost, MetLife provides Estate Planning Services and Estate Resolution Services designed to help employees prepare for the future and support their loved ones during difficult times.

Estate Planning Services: Protecting Your Wishes

Employees enrolled in Supplemental Term Life Insurance automatically receive access to MetLife Estate Planning Services.

This benefit offers two convenient ways to create important legal documents that help ensure your wishes are carried out:

Digital Estate Planning Services

Employees have unlimited access to online estate planning tools that allow them to create wills and other important estate planning documents quickly and easily. The service also includes access to online notary services, making it simple to complete the process from start to finish.

Will Preparation Services

Employees may also work directly with a MetLife Legal Plans attorney, either in person or over the phone, to prepare or update key estate planning documents. When using a participating plan attorney, there is no charge for these services.

Documents that can be prepared include:

Last Will and Testament

A will allows you to make important decisions regarding the distribution of your property and assets after your death. It can also identify who will care for minor children and who will serve as the executor of your estate. Without a will, these decisions may be determined according to state law rather than your personal wishes.

Living Will (Advance Healthcare Directive)

A living will, also known as an advance healthcare directive, allows you to document your medical treatment preferences and designate someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become unable to communicate.

This document can provide guidance on extraordinary life-support measures and help loved ones avoid having to make difficult medical decisions without knowing your wishes.

Financial Power of Attorney

A power of attorney allows you to designate a trusted individual to act on your behalf if you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to manage your affairs. This person can help manage financial matters, ensuring important responsibilities are handled when you need assistance.

Estate Resolution Services: Supporting Loved Ones During Difficult Times

In addition to helping employees prepare important legal documents during their lifetime, MetLife also provides Estate Resolution Services (ERS) to assist loved ones after a loss.

Estate Resolution Services provides probate assistance to the representative (executor or administrator) of an employee's estate, as well as the estate of the employee's spouse or domestic partner.

Through ERS, participating plan attorneys can provide guidance and support either in person or by phone, including:

  • Assistance with navigating the probate process.
  • Preparation of legal documents required to transfer probate assets from the estate to heirs.
  • Representation at court proceedings related to probate matters.
  • Completion of correspondence necessary to transfer non-probate assets.
  • Consultations to answer general questions regarding estate administration and probate.

ERS covers participating plan attorneys' fees for both telephone and face-to-face consultations. This allows executors and administrators to discuss general questions about the probate process with an experienced attorney at no additional cost, helping them better understand their responsibilities and navigate what can often be a complex and overwhelming process.

By providing legal guidance and covering eligible attorney fees, Estate Resolution Services can help ease both the administrative burden and financial stress that often accompany the loss of a loved one.

If you have questions about your USM MetLife or State of Maryland MetLife benefits, please search the AskHR knowledge articles or create an AskHR case, and the UHR Benefits team will respond to your inquiry.

USM MetLife Resources:

State of Maryland MetLife Resources:

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