Blog Posts

When Life Changes Without Warning Most families do not expect to deal with estate matters suddenly. We tend to think these things will come later, after long conversations and careful planning. But life does not always follow that timeline. Unexpected loss happens. A spouse passes away suddenly. A parent becomes incapacitated without warning. A loved one leaves behind responsibilities that no one else fully understands. In those moments families are not thinking about legal d

Families talk about inheritance. They talk about wills. They rarely talk about the executor. That gap causes real problems. The executor is the person responsible for handling everything after someone dies. They gather assets. They pay debts. They file court documents. They distribute the estate. It sounds simple. It is not. Most people choose an executor without explaining what the role actually involves. Then the day comes when the person named in the will has to step in an

Founder Jacob Schmalzle says estate administration can preserve family legacy while continuing support for churches and charitable causes. Florida, USA, Jun 09, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE - Spirit of Service (SOS), the faith-based estate executor and trustee organization founded by Jacob Schmalzle, is bringing charitable giving into the estate administration process through a model that donates a portion of executor fees back to churches and nonprofit organizations selected by clients

When people think about the legacy they want to leave behind, they often focus on big things. They think about providing financial security for their children, supporting charitable causes, or passing along treasured family possessions. Those things certainly matter, but after working with families through estate administration, I have come to appreciate another gift that is often overlooked. Organization. It may not sound inspiring at first, but being organized is one of the

When most people think about estate planning, they naturally focus on assets. They think about their home, savings accounts, investments, retirement funds, and personal belongings. They want to make sure the people they love are cared for financially after they are gone. There is nothing wrong with that. Providing for your family is an act of love and responsibility. However, after working with families through estate administration and trust management, I have come to believ

Spirit of Service founder Jacob Schmalzle is raising awareness about the growing need for churches to help families navigate probate and estate administration after the loss of a loved one. Spirit of Service founder Jacob Schmalzle Orlando, Florida Jun 8, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Jacob Schmalzle, founder of the faith-based estate executor and trustee organization Spirit of Service (SOS), is calling for churches to play a larger role in supporting families through probate and e

Jacob Schmalzle on Why Faith-Based Stewardship Doesn’t End With Writing a Will Most estate planning conversations stop too early. Families create a will. Maybe they set up a trust. Then everyone assumes the work is done. It is not. The real test comes later, when someone has to carry out those instructions during grief, paperwork, court filings, family tension, and financial pressure. That is where estate executor and fiduciary professional Jacob Schmalzle says many families

What Most Families Expect When families begin the estate process, they usually expect a few basic things. They expect some paperwork, a few meetings, and a clear path to settling everything properly. They assume the process will be handled professionally and completed within a reasonable timeframe. What they do not expect are the hidden costs. These costs are not always obvious at the beginning. They show up slowly through delays, hourly billing, and unnecessary complexity. B

Jacob Schmalzle is the founder of Spirit of Service (SOS), a faith-based estate executor and trustee organization that helps families navigate probate and trust administration. His path into the industry was unexpected and deeply personal. Raised in a missionary family, Jacob grew up watching his father, Pastor Bob, serve others through faith and community work. That mindset stayed with him into adulthood. Years later, after losing both his father and grandmother within a sho

Most people never plan to work in probate. The industry usually finds them after a death in the family, a confusing legal process, or a stressful estate dispute. For Jacob Schmalzle, it started with a request from someone at church. Today, Schmalzle is the founder of Spirit of Service (SOS), a faith-based estate executor and trustee organization that works with families navigating probate and trust administration. The company operates with a simple idea that has helped it sta

Trusts Sound Complicated, but the Purpose Is Simple When people hear the word trust, they often assume it is something only wealthy families use. Others think it is a complicated legal structure that only lawyers fully understand. The truth is much simpler. A trust is a tool used in estate planning to manage assets and distribute them according to a person’s wishes. Instead of assets passing directly through probate, they can be held and managed inside a trust. The person res

Thinking Beyond What We Leave to Family When people think about estate planning, the first question is usually simple. Who will receive what I leave behind? That is an important question. Most of us want to make sure our families are cared for. We want to provide stability for our children and leave something meaningful for the people we love. But for many people of faith, legacy goes beyond family. Throughout their lives they supported their church, gave to charities, and he

A Different Path Into Estate Services Most people don’t plan to build a career around probate and estate administration. For Jacob Schmalzle, the work began with a simple act of service at church. Today, he is the founder of Spirit of Service (SOS), a company that handles estate executor and trustee responsibilities. But the idea didn’t start as a business plan. It started with a neighbor who needed help. “I play guitar at church and volunteer regularly,” Schmalzle says. “Som

Jacob Schmalzle Jacob Schmalzle, founder of Spirit of Service in the United States, is encouraging families and communities to better understand the probate process and consider independent fiduciary support. Estate executor and fiduciary professional Jacob Schmalzle is urging families, churches, and community leaders to pay closer attention to probate planning and the role of independent executors, an often overlooked but critical part of estate administration. Schmalzle, fo

Thinking About Legacy the Christian Way When most people hear the words estate planning, they think about legal documents. They think about wills, trusts, and dividing up property. Those things are important, but from a Christian perspective, estate planning is about much more than paperwork. It is about stewardship. As Christians we believe that everything we have ultimately belongs to God. Our homes, savings, businesses, and possessions are blessings entrusted to us for a s