Testamentary Disposition – Who Will Inherit Your Shares?
Ahtna’s Shareholder Services Department is responsible for settling deceased shareholder estates and a testamentary disposition form provides clear and concise guidelines to determining the heirs of your Ahtna shares and the process is different than gifting shares when a shareholder is still living. A Testamentary is not a complete personal will, but directs us on your wishes for your Ahtna shares. It is extremely important for shareholders to prepare and have a valid Testamentary on file with Ahtna. Without it, when you pass, your shares may go to someone other than your choosing. The Testamentary Disposition form will also allow you to appoint a representative to handle any potlatch fund donations you are eligible for from Ahtna after your passing.
When a shareholder passes on and they do not have a Testamentary on file with Ahtna, the transfer of shares becomes more complicated and could take months, or even years, delaying what could be a relatively quick and simple process. We know it isn’t easy thinking about these things, however a Testamentary protects you by allowing you to determine who inherits your shares if something were to happen to you. Preparing for this makes the process much smoother and faster for your family.
The Testamentary is a three page form and is available to shareholders to be printed online at www.ahtna-inc.com by clicking on the “Shareholders” tab, then selecting “Services and Forms” from the drop down menu. You may also call Shareholder Services at (907) 822-3476 to have one mailed to you from the Glennallen headquarters office. Shareholder Relations is available to answer questions or assist you in filling out the form correctly. The form must be completely filled out, notarized, and returned to Shareholder Relations to be considered valid. Custodians, guardians or power of attorney cannot complete the form – it must be completed by the individual shareholder. You can update your Testamentary at any time and only the most recent dated form will be considered valid. You should also make a copy of the completed form for yourself and keep it in a safe place.