Case Study: How UA Local 290 Turned Estate Planning Into a Must-Have Benefit

When a union member passes away without an estate plan, the fallout hits close to home. Spouses arrive at the union hall in tears. Pensions go to the wrong person. Families are left scrambling during the worst moments of their lives.

That was the reality for UA Local 290, a Washington State union representing 5,300 plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC technicians. Today, hundreds of their members have completed estate plans through Trust & Will, and the union is just getting started.

Before Trust & Will: No Plan, No Safety Net

Before partnering with Trust & Will, UA Local 290 had zero estate planning support for its members. Business Manager Paul Elder summed it up simply: the union left it up to individuals, and the consequences were devastating.

With 5,300 members, fewer than 3% had any estate plan in place. The impact was deeply personal. Members’ spouses and children would come into the union office after losing a loved one with no guidance on what to do next. Estates went into probate. In one especially painful case, a member who had been married for 20 years with two children at home had never updated his beneficiary cards. Everything went to his ex-wife, who refused to do right by the family he’d built.

The local also experienced six member suicides in recent years. Four of the spouses came to Paul with no direction on how to handle what was left behind.

These weren’t hypothetical risks. They were real families in crisis. And they were the reason UA Local 290 decided to act.

A Simple Solution That Meets Members Where They Are

Local 290 partnered with Trust & Will to make estate planning easier and more accessible for members and their families. Rather than building something from scratch, the union wove the benefit into what it was already doing.

The program is introduced during union meetings and retiree meetings. Informational flyers with QR codes are made readily available so members can access the platform and get started at their own pace. Trust & Will representatives have also presented during the union’s annual Pre-Retirement Seminar, walking members through the sign-up process and answering questions in real time.

One of the most effective strategies has been bringing estate planning directly to apprentice classes. Paul and the leadership team speak with younger members early in their careers, encouraging them to get a plan in place before life gets complicated. As Paul tells his apprentices, one of the best parts of Trust & Will is that if something changes (a marriage, a new child, a divorce), they can log back in and update their plan anytime.

The union has also taken steps to remove every last barrier. Local 290 has two certified notaries on staff and large-format copy machines on site, which means members can print, sign, and notarize their documents all in a single visit. They’re even planning live group sessions where members bring their devices and complete the Trust & Will questionnaire together, with Q&A support available throughout.

What Actually Gets Members to Act

For Paul, the most powerful motivator isn’t a flyer or a webinar. It’s the truth.

He shares real stories of members who didn’t plan, and what happened to their families because of it. One story involves a close friend and fellow member who, despite years of Paul’s urging, nearly let his entire pension go to an ex-wife he hadn’t spoken to in over a decade. It was only after persistent, personal intervention that his friend finally updated his plan. Just months later, he passed unexpectedly. Without that last-minute change, everything would have gone to the wrong person.

Paul identified procrastination and the fear of getting started as the primary barriers for members. By telling real stories and normalizing the conversation, Local 290 has helped members see estate planning as something approachable, not something to dread.

The Results: 254 Plans and Growing

Since launching the partnership, Local 290 has seen strong engagement from members who appreciate having access to a simple and convenient estate planning solution.

• 254 members have completed their estate plans through Trust & Will so far, with a goal to reach 1,000+

• Increased awareness and education around estate planning for all 5,300 union members

• Members report greater peace of mind knowing their families are protected

• Referrals and word-of-mouth interest from family members and fellow workers

The partnership has also helped normalize conversations around estate planning within the union community. By making it part of regular meetings, seminars, and training sessions, Local 290 has turned a topic that many families avoid into something that feels routine and manageable.

A Message From UA Local 290

“If you truly love your family, you should do these things. Because it takes care of the ones you love and care about. That’s it. Period. Providing our members with resources that support their families and their future is a core part of what we do. Trust & Will gives our members a simple and accessible way to create an estate plan, and the response from our membership has been extremely positive.” — Paul Elder, Business Manager, UA Local 290

Want to Follow Local 290’s Lead?

Estate planning isn’t just a benefit. It’s a way to show your members you’re looking out for their families long after the workday ends. With Trust & Will, unions can offer an affordable, accessible estate planning solution that removes the barriers keeping working families from getting protected.

Trust & Will makes estate planning simple so you can create a customized, state-specific plan from the comfort of your own home. Take our free quiz to discover which estate plan best fits your needs and secure your family's future.

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