Honoring Your Sacrifice: Estate Planning for Military Families | Freedom Law Services

Each year on November 11, the nation pauses to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who’ve served in our Armed Forces. Beyond the ceremonies and flags, Veterans Day also gives military families a moment to ask an important question: Is our family truly protected if something happens to us?

At Freedom Law Services, we’ve walked beside many Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati-area military families who discovered that “standard” estate plans often fall short of what service members need. Between deployments, relocations, and complex benefit systems, your plan has to work in ways most civilian plans never consider.

In this article, we’ll share what makes military estate planning different, how to safeguard your benefits, and how to build a Life & Legacy Plan that serves you through active duty, retirement, and beyond.

Why Military Families Need a Different Kind of Estate Plan

Military life brings both privilege and challenge. You may have access to Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments, or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Each of these benefits can be a lifeline—but only if they’re coordinated properly within your estate plan.

Without that coordination, even well-intended plans can fail.
If an old SGLI form still names a former partner, your life insurance could go to the wrong person. If you list a minor child, a court will have to manage those funds until your child turns 18—and then hand it all over at once, with no guardrails or long-term guidance.

Frequent relocations add another wrinkle. Estate laws differ by state, so a plan drafted in California may not hold up after a move to Kentucky or overseas. Without periodic reviews, your plan can quietly go out of date—or even become invalid.

Deployment poses its own risks. When you’re serving abroad or in harm’s way, your loved ones must be able to act quickly. Standard powers of attorney often don’t meet military system requirements, leaving spouses or parents locked out of crucial accounts right when timing matters most. These are not the kinds of surprises your family should face under stress.

How to Protect and Maximize Your Military Benefits

The benefits you’ve earned through service are a cornerstone of your family’s future security. To make sure they work as intended:

• Review every beneficiary designation. Your SGLI, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and retirement accounts all have forms that override your will or trust. Out-of-date paperwork can send money to an ex-spouse or skip your children entirely.

• Evaluate your Survivor Benefit Plan. SBP coverage can be invaluable—but only when balanced with your life insurance, VA benefits, and other assets. We help families weigh cost versus coverage so they aren’t over- or under-insured.

• Organize your military records. Your DD-214 and related documents are essential for your family to access VA benefits, military burial honors, or survivor programs. We include these records—and how to retrieve them—as part of every Life & Legacy Plan we create.

• Record burial preferences. Veterans are entitled to burial in national cemeteries, memorial markers, burial flags, and Presidential Memorial Certificates at no cost—but only if your family knows how to claim them. Spell out what you want, from honors to resting place, so your loved ones don’t have to guess.

When these pieces come together, your benefits don’t just exist on paper—they function seamlessly when your family needs them most.

Building a Plan That Works in Every Stage of Service

A strong plan serves you through every chapter: deployment, active duty, retirement, and incapacity.

• Durable Power of Attorney:
  This should grant your spouse or chosen agent authority to handle financial and legal matters—including DFAS, VA, and Tricare communications—without court delays. Generic templates rarely cover these specifics. As your Personal Family Lawyer® Firm, we draft powers of attorney customized for your service and family needs.

• Healthcare Directives:
  Make sure your healthcare proxy works in both civilian and military hospitals. We craft language that allows your advocate to coordinate directly with military medical staff—so your wishes are honored whether you’re injured in service or facing illness later in life.

• Personal Property & Memorabilia:
  Uniforms, medals, and keepsakes carry deep meaning. Documenting who should receive them (and the stories behind them) helps preserve your service legacy for future generations.

Most of all, you deserve a trusted advisor who stays connected through each move, deployment, and transition. Traditional firms draft documents and disappear.
We stay with you. We review and update your plan regularly so it continues to protect your family as life changes.

Proper planning isn’t just a set of papers—it’s an ongoing relationship.

Honoring Your Sacrifice—and Your Family’s

You’ve already given so much in service to our country. Now it’s time to make sure that service translates into lasting protection for the people you love most.

When we create your Life & Legacy Plan, your family will know:

• Where to find essential documents

• How to access accounts and benefits

• Whom to call first for help

• And what steps to take—without confusion or delay

When the time comes, your loved ones won’t be left alone in a maze of VA claims or court processes. They’ll have someone who already knows them, their story, and the life you built together.

This Veterans Day, honor your service by securing your family’s peace of mind.
Let’s make sure your dedication to our country carries forward as a legacy of stability and love.

Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call with Freedom Law Services today in our Crestview Hills, KY office.

Together, we’ll create a Life & Legacy Plan that protects your time, your money, and—most importantly—your family.

📞 Call (859) 344-6742 or visit www.FreedomLawServices.com/call-today to schedule.

This article is a service of Freedom Law Services, your Personal Family Lawyer® Firm. We don’t just draft documents—we ensure you make informed, empowered decisions about life and death for yourself and the people you love. During a Family Wealth Planning Session™, you’ll get more financially organized than ever before and make the best choices for your family. Call today to find out how to receive this valuable session at no charge.

This material is for educational purposes only and not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. For advice specific to your needs, please consult qualified counsel separately.