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Create Your Legacy

SUPPORT New York Public Library

Your free estate plan from Giving Docs Giving Docs


Join other New York Public Library supporters and plan your legacy. Giving Docs is safe, secure and free for life.

Nora Benoliel
Nora Benoliel
212.930.0652
plannedgifts@nypl.org
Director of Planned Giving
The New York Public Library
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Create Your LEGACY in 3 Simple Steps
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1
Assign Gifts to Important People and Causes
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2
Select Trusted People (Executors and Guardians)
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3
Sign With Witnesses

While The New York Public Library covers the cost of providing this service, Giving Docs is an independent third-party platform, completely separate from The New York Public Library. Its services are provided without review from The New York Public Library, and The New York Public Library is not liable for its use. Giving Docs is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Your use of the platform is subject to Giving Docs' Terms of Service, which we encourage you to review.

Our Values Aligned

Many New York Public Library supporters have chosen to advance the values that have been most important in their lives by providing a gift through their estate plan. Regardless of the size of your gift, you can now provide funding to help support our cause in the years to come.

Traditionally, creating a will can be expensive and time-consuming. To solve this problem, The New York Public Library is pleased to offer our supporters free access to Giving Docs. Here you can easily create your will and other estate planning documents in just a few minutes. You are not required to leave a gift in order to create a will. This is our gift to you.

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Ellen K. Jaffe, an accomplished professional photographer for private clients and corporations around the world, traces her connection to The New York Public Library back to the institution’s literal foundations. Her grandfather, Max Tuchman, studied sculpture in Paris after fleeing Czarist Russia; eventually making his life in New York where he joined the renowned architectural firm Carrère and Hastings, which won the competition to build the Library’s iconic 42nd Street branch in 1895.

Ellen describes the Library as the “most democratic institution that I know of” and says she “still gets chills” each time she views the words that adorn the entrance to Astor Hall, which read: “The City of New York has erected this building to be maintained forever as a free Library for the use of the people.” In support of that ideal, and in appreciation for the services that the Library provides to our patrons, Ellen decided to leave a legacy to the Library by arranging to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity with the organization. 

Ellen K. Jaffe, member of the Bigelow Society
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Features at a Glance

A full suite of estate planning tools legally binding in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Will / Trust*
(Start Fresh)

Codicil
(Update Will)

Durable Power
of Attorney 

Advance Healthcare
Directive

Qualified Charitable
Distribution Tool 

Donor Advised Fund
Tool

Stock Gift
Tool

*Revocable Living Trusts are only available for California residents currently

Screenshot of platform features

Frequently Asked Questions

Your last will and testament is a formal document that specifies your wishes when you pass away. If you do not have a will, state law will determine how your belongings, children and pets are placed among your living family.

Giving Docs advises that a completed will is not legally binding until it has been signed and executed in accordance with the laws of your state of residence. Giving Docs will give you detailed instructions on how to do so in order to ensure that your will carries out your wishes. Giving Docs securely keeps your information in your profile so that you can quickly and easily update your will whenever you need to. The standard will document you create on the GivingDocs website incorporates typical estate planning needs. If you have a complicated estate with multiple properties and complex assets, or would like to discuss alternative planned giving vehicles, we recommend consulting an attorney and/or financial advisor.

This offer is free to you, compliments of Your Organization.

No. While The New York Public Library covers the cost of providing this service to our supporters, Giving Docs is an independent third-party platform, completely separate from The New York Public Library. Its services are provided without review from The New York Public Library, and The New York Public Library is not liable for its use. Giving Docs is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Your use of the platform is subject to Giving Docs' Terms of Service, which we encourage you to review.

Giving Docs states a will from Giving Docs is valid all 50 states and the District of Columbia if it has been signed and executed in accordance with the laws of your state of residence. If you live outside of the U.S., you may use the Giving Docs process to outline your wishes in preparation for speaking with an attorney.

Yes. Giving Docs makes it easy to leave gifts to all of your favorite organizations. Giving Docs will prompt you to leave a percentage of your estate to your favorite charity, but you are not required to leave a gift in order to create a will through Giving Docs.

Yes, you can use Giving Docs to create a new will. Be sure to have it executed per the laws in your state.

Yes, Giving Docs offers the opportunity to leave a gift without altering your existing will through a codicil. You can access the codicil platform directly.

The New York Public Library does not share your personal information with Giving Docs. Giving Docs only receives the information that you provide to them, when you activate your Giving Docs account. Giving Docs' Terms of Service prohibits the sale or rental of user names or other personal information.

When creating your account with Giving Docs, you will be asked if you would like to share your contact information with any charities for which you leave a gift. If you choose to share your contact information, the charity will receive your contact information and note about your planned gift, as agreed upon. No other data will be shared with the charity. If you do not wish to share any information at all, you can choose to remain anonymous. If you choose to remain anonymous, the charity will not receive any identifying information.

You are not required to leave a gift to The New York Public Library or any other organization in order to create a will. And any bequest provision you include is revocable. It can be changed at any time for any reason. Simply log back into your account to update your will, and follow the instructions for signatures and notarizations.

So many The New York Public Library supporters choose to provide a future gift that we are able to offer Giving Docs for free to our dedicated supporters.
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