12 Ways Families Can Keep Environmental Values in Estate Decisions

If you’ve spent years thinking about your carbon footprint, being mindful about waste, or choosing banks and investments that don’t fund climate destruction, then you probably don’t want all that to disappear the moment estate planning enters the picture. But we get it, it’s easy for that to happen, and it happens often: families who care deeply about the planet are suddenly stuck in a haze of paperwork, probate, and logistical pressure, and sustainability just… drops out of the conversation.

But it doesn’t need to be this way. If your family has strong environmental priorities, there are concrete ways to carry those into every decision in estate transitions: from green funerals to how you handle property, cleanouts, and wealth transfers. After all, estate decisions are more than legal tasks. They’re an extension of the values we live by. They reflect who we were and, ideally, what we wanted to leave behind.

If you’re someone who thinks about legacy in more than just dollar terms, here are 12 practical ways to bring your environmental values into the estate planning process. You’ll find the advice below useful whether you’re writing a will, navigating probate, or managing the logistics of a family loss.

1. Have the Conversation Before Anyone’s in Crisis

It’s hard to talk about death. These things are anything but pleasant. But ignoring the reality of life (and death as an inevitable part) won’t make it go away. While the conversation may be difficult, what’s even more challenging is trying to guess what someone would’ve wanted after they’re gone.

If sustainability is part of your family’s values, you really shouldn’t keep this vague. It’s also best to bring it up as soon as possible, not after a diagnosis. Clarifying environmental priorities ahead of time (like preferring green burial methods or redirecting inherited wealth toward ecological nonprofits) will give loved ones a clearer path forward.

2. Skip the Toxic Funeral Norms

Let’s start this chapter with some sobering facts. According to the Green Burial Council, over 20 million feet of wood, 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluid, and 1.6 million tons of concrete are buried every year in the U.S. alone. That’s awful for the environment and what good does it do to the deceased? None whatsoever.

The greener alternatives are out there, and they’re becoming more accessible: conservation burial grounds, mushroom suits, biodegradable caskets, even water-based cremation (also known as aquamation). If the goal is to return to the earth, there are better ways to do it.

3. Don’t Treat Cleanouts Like a Race to the Dumpster

After someone dies, it’s tempting to speed through the cleanout just to be done with it all. But you can slow down, at least enough to sort what can be reused, donated, composted, or recycled.

There are companies that specialize in eco-conscious estate cleanouts (LoadUp and GreenDrop are two good examples). Also, many local nonprofits often accept everything from books to building materials. This does take more coordination, but it prevents unnecessary landfill loads.

4. Prioritize Eco Donations

Splitting personal affects by monetary value makes sense in some contexts, but it’s better to also consider their impact. For example, if there are solar panels, electric tools, or gardening supplies and you don’t really need them, don’t resell them unless you have to. Instead, give them to people who’ll actually use them. This does two things: it extends the life of the items and honors the original owner’s ethics.

You can also direct inherited funds to land trusts, reforestation projects, or ecological justice initiatives if that’s an option for you.

5. Review Inherited Investments Through a Climate Lens

Many portfolios, even ones built with good intentions, still hold stock in fossil fuels, deforestation, or companies dodging environmental regulation. So, before accepting or reinvesting, take some time to check.

You can also talk to an advisor who understands ESG investing (environmental, social, governance). Some families even choose to redirect a portion of inherited assets to fund environmental litigation or green startups. It’s a great way to both honor the past and build a livable future.

6. Rethink What Property Can Be

If you’ve inherited a home, and your family isn’t planning on keeping it, consider converting it into an eco-conscious rental, co-op housing project, or community garden hub. If the land has ecological value or cultural meaning, you can also look into conservation easements.

What if you want to sell it? In that case, make sure you vet buyers through networks aligned with sustainable land use or historic preservation.

7. Set Up Environmental Trusts

You don’t need to be wealthy to create a trust that supports climate goals or protects green spaces. A good estate attorney can help you set up conditions for how assets are used long-term. For instance, land that must remain undeveloped, or funds that go toward environmental education.

Talk to legal advisors who understand the intersection of estate law and conservation for maximum impact.

8. Get Legal Support When Conflicts Arise

Estate plans touching on environmental ethics often run into bureaucracy. If probate gets messy, or there are disputes between siblings, executors, or other heirs, you’ll want support from attorneys who can manage both the legal complexity and the family dynamics.

Professionals like probate estate litigation attorneys in Dallas (or your local jurisdiction) can help navigate complex family and legal dynamics while respecting the sustainability lens you’re trying to apply.

9. Go Beyond the Big-Name Donations

Large environmental organizations do important work, but small, local, and BIPOC-led groups are often underfunded and closer to the ground.

So consider directing estate donations to land-back movements, environmental justice orgs, or mutual aid networks. These can have a more targeted as well as long-term impact.

10. Use Inheritance to Seed Regenerative Change

Not everyone wants to inherit a big check. But if you do, ask what that money could build. A tool library? A native plant nursery? A fund for community-owned solar?

There are many options to consider here, so think beyond the usual estate mechanics. Your money has weight and direction, so use it for good whenever you can.

11. Let Go of Stuff That Doesn’t Serve Anyone

We’ve all seen it: rooms full of heirlooms no one wants, kept out of guilt. If something holds real meaning, digitize it. If it’s just taking up space, repurpose it.

For instance, a worn dresser might make a better garden bench than an actual dresser. Don’t get us wrong, we think that sentiment has its place. But so does honesty and sustainability.

12. Redefine Value as More Than Cash

If we keep defaulting to financial return as the only marker of value, we miss the point. What if land is more valuable as a preserved wetland than as a development plot? What if your inheritance can grow food, not just savings?

Estates are a rare moment where you get to define what matters. Don’t let banks or brokers decide that for you.