A new estate planning program piloted by State Employees' CreditUnion has officially launched with a new loan feature.

Members of the $21 billion credit union in Raleigh, N.C., thatparticipate in the “Estate Planning Essentials” program can includea will with possible trust provisions, a durable power of attorney,a health care power of attorney and living will, and a HealthInsurance Portability and Accountability Act authorization. Thedocuments are prepared by estate planning attorneys who have agreedto complete the documents at a set member price.

Services included in the basic program are priced at $250 for anindividual and $350 for a couple with substantially similar estateplans whose documents are prepared at the same time, according toSECU. Members who require more complex planning can work with SECUTrust representatives and a local attorney of the members' choiceto help address their estate planning needs.

The estate planning program also offers a loan for those who donot have a will and may be deterred by the expense of having oneprepared, SECU said. The loan, currently at a 10.75% rate, willallow members up to 12 months to pay for the program, which is anaverage monthly cost of approximately $32. To date, more than 3,000members, including employees and volunteers, have participated inthe program, according to the credit union.