Online Last Will and Testament for Single Person With Children Step 1 of 12 - Beginning Information 8% Beginning Information This will form is for a single, divorced, or widowed person with at least one biological or adopted child. Appropriateness of Form; Unusual Situations This will form is appropriate if you are eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind, and your estate is small enough not to be subject to state or federal death taxes. If you have significant assets; have a business you wish to pass on to the next generation; cannot read, sign your name, or see; have a mental disability, have been determined to be incapacitated, or have a conservator or guardian; or have a domestic partner or gay marriage, then this will form may not be appropriate for you, and you should consult an estate planning attorney in your state for specific legal advice pertaining to your circumstances. What is your full name, including middle name?* What is the name of the city you live in?* What is the name of the state you live in?AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming Family Information I have the following children, biological or adopted, and all references to a “child” or “children” in this Will refer to one or all of these children, as context may require:1a. Name 1b. Date of Birth 1c. Social Security Number: You can also fill in the SS# after the form is printed1d. City/State of Residence: 2a. Name: 2b. Date of Birth 2c. Social Security Number: You can also fill in the SS# after the form is printed2d. City/State of Residence: 3a. Name: 3b. Date of Birth 3c. Social Security Number: You can also fill in the SS# after the form is printed3d. City/State of Residence: 4a. Name: 4b. Date of Birth 4c. Social Security Number: You can also fill in the SS# after the form is printed4d. City/State of Residence: 5a. Name: 5b. Date of Birth 5c. Social Security Number: You can also fill in the SS# after the form is printed5d. City/State of Residence: Appointment of Executor The executor can be a beneficiary. The executor will serve without bond and will have the authority to carry out the provisions of my Will, including without limitation, the power to buy, sell, and maintain property; to pursue any claims or legal actions on behalf of my estate; and to pay my probate and funeral expenses prior to any distribution of property. What is the name of the person you want to appoint as executor of your estate? If this person is unable or unwilling to serve as executor, what is the name of the person who you want to serve as alternate executor? Guardianship of Minor Children Here you will appoint a guardian, who will act as a substitute parent, for any of your children who are minors when you die. If you have an ex-spouse from who are divorced, you may wish to name him or her as first choice for guardian, and even if you don’t, your ex-spouse may still be entitled to custody. If all children are adults, you may write “N/A” or “None” in the blanks. If you fail to appoint a guardian for your minor children, a court will determine who will become their guardian. It is a good idea to check with those you intend to appoint to ensure that they are willing to become the guardian of your minor children.Primary guardian for my minor child(ren)Full Name Address City State If primary named guardian is unable or unwilling to serve, then I appoint alternate guardian.Full Name Address City State Trust For The Benefit of The Minor Children Here you will appoint a trustee and alternate trustee for a trust(s) that will be established upon your death, if your children are minors at the time of your deaths. You may want to consider whether or not you would like the guardian you appoint to also serve as trustee. The Trustee’s Duties: The trustee will convert to cash all debts and securities that are not qualified legal investments, will reinvest cash in proper securities, and will protect and preserve the trust property. The trustee will hold the trust property for the benefit of the child(ren) and may distribute the income or principal of the trust as the trustee deems necessary to provide for the child(ren)’s health, education, maintenance, and support. The Trustee’s Authority: The trustee will have the authority to hire accountants, agents, attorneys, investment advisors, tax advisors, and any other professional that is reasonably necessary to administer the trust and manage the trust assets. General Administration of the Trust(s): Any child’s interest held in trust is nontransferable by either voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of law. All interests will remain free from claims of creditors, attachment, bankruptcy, execution, or any other legal process to the fullest extent permitted by law. As permitted by applicable laws, the trustee will serve without bond and will administer the trust at his/her discretion, independent of court supervision to the maximum extent permitted by law. The trustee may receive reasonable compensation for his/her services. Primary Trustee Full Name Date of Birth Address City State Alternate TrusteeFull Name Date of Birth Address City State Here you must also determine at what age any assets remaining in such a trust(s) will be distributed outright to the beneficiary(ies), at which point they will be free to spend the money as they see fit. 25 and 30 years of age are commonly used, but any age 18 or greater is acceptable.Termination of the Trust(s): The termination of a child’s trust will occur upon any of the following: the child who is the named beneficiary dies before reaching the age of , the child reaches the age of , or the trust property is depleted through properly authorized distributions by the trustee. Upon the termination of the trust, all remaining property in such trust shall promptly be distributed outright to the beneficiary of the trust. In the event that I bequeath any of my estate in this Will to a child of mine who is under the age of eighteen years at the time of my death, then I direct that all such bequests for that child be held in a separate trust until the child reaches the age of Disinheritance Here you can determine which child(ren) will not inherit any property from your will. I intentionally and with full knowledge of the consequences disinherit to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law, and deliberately provide nothing in my Will, for the following of my children (otherwise, insert “N/A” below):1a. Name: 1b. Date of Birth 1c. Social Security Number 2a. Name: 2b. Date of Birth 2c. Social Security Number 3a. Name: 3b. Date of Birth 3c. Social Security Number Specific Bequests - Distribution of Personal Property You may leave specific bequests to relatives or ex-spouses just as you would any other beneficiary. If you wish to leave a specific item or amount of money to a person or charity, list it here. You may choose to leave all your property, or all of your property except for specified items, to one person or more than one person in equal shares by indicating this (e.g., “My ½-carat diamond engagement ring, Mary Jones; All other personal property, 50% to John Knight, 50% to Tom Day,” or “All, Equally among my cousins.”). Keep in mind that in general specific requests are fulfilled first as far as assets permit (after funeral and probate expenses), and large specific bequests here could result in no distribution to residuary beneficiaries, if the estate ends up being smaller than originally expected. Here you will list the name of the individual(s) or charity(ies) who you would like to leave a specific bequest of cash or personal property too; this can also include pets. 1. Full name of individual or charity number one? 1a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage2. Full name of individual or charity number two? 2a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage3. Full name of individual or charity number three? 3a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage4. Full name of individual or charity number four? 4a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage5. Full name of individual or charity number five? 5a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage6. Full name of individual or charity number six? 6a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage7. Full name of individual or charity number seven? 7a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage8. Full name of individual or charity number eight? 8a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage9. Full name of individual or charity number nine? 9a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage10. Full name of individual or charity number ten? 10a. Item(s), Amount, or Percentage Distribution of Real Property Real property includes things like your home; improvements attached to the land, buildings, garages, fences and the land on which these fixtures lie. I bequeath my title, rights, and interest in any real property, together with any related insurance policy and claims, to the following individual(s) and charity(ies):1. Full name of individual or charity number one? 1a. Property2. Full name of individual or charity number two? 2a. Property3. Full name of individual or charity number three? 3a. Property4. Full name of individual or charity number four? 4a. Property5. Full name of individual or charity number five? 5a. Property6. Full name of individual or charity number six? 6a. Property7. Full name of individual or charity number seven? 7a. Property8. Full name of individual or charity number eight? 8a. Property9. Full name of individual or charity number nine? 9a. Property10. Full name of individual or charity number ten? 10a. Property Residuary Clause In this section, you will select the person or persons who will take the residue of your estate. The residue of your estate is made up of anything that is not specifically devised in your will, or any specific devise that fails. For instance, if the beneficiary and alternate beneficiary of your personal property predeceases you or are otherwise unable to take the bequest, then the person named to receive the residue of your estate would receive your personal property.If the estate ends up being larger than expected (e.g., as the result of a life insurance policy payable to you, or a wrongful-death award following your death), then the residuary amount may end up being the most significant assets distributed under the will. You may leave bequests to relatives or ex-spouses just as you would any other beneficiary. Enter the name of each beneficiary and the percentage they will receive. The total percentage of each beneficiary must add up to 100%.1. Full name of individual or charity number one? 1a. % of Remainder 2. Full name of individual or charity number two? 2a. % of Remainder 3. Full name of individual or charity number three? 3a. % of Remainder 4. Full name of individual or charity number four? 4a. % of Remainder 5. Full name of individual or charity number five? 5a. % of Remainder 6. Full name of individual or charity number six? 6a. % of Remainder 7. Full name of individual or charity number seven? 7a. % of Remainder 8. Full name of individual or charity number eight? 8a. % of Remainder 9. Full name of individual or charity number nine? 9a. % of Remainder 10. Full name of individual or charity number ten? 10a. % of Remainder If this (these) individual(s) or charity(ies) fail(s) to survive me, then I bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to List full name of individual or charity Simultaneous Death of A Beneficiary The provision below is the default for this will, and you can change it so any beneficiary of this will does not need to survive you by 60 days. However, we suggest you consult with an attorney before you do, so you understand exactly how this may affect the distribution of your estate. If any named beneficiary of this Will, including any beneficiary of a trust established by this Will, does not survive me, dies within sixty days of my death, or dies prior to the distribution of my estate, then I will be deemed to have survived that person, and no distribution will be made under this Will to such a beneficiary. FINALIZING YOUR WILL 1.Determine who you will ask to witness your will and ask them to accompany you to sign the will in front of a notary public. You should use three adults to witness the signing of your will. You should select witnesses who are different from the beneficiaries named in your will. The notary public does not count as a witness. Ask the notary public if there is an additional self-proving affidavit form you should use in your state. Addendums for witness and notary signatures will be automatically added to your will when it is downloaded. Chose preview to have a look. 2. As a matter of formality, you should acknowledge to everyone present that the document everyone will be signing is your will. Then you and your witnesses should sign the will and the self-proving affidavit in the presence of each other and in the presence of the notary public. As the testator, be sure to sign the bottom of each page, as well as where indicated. 3. After it is signed and notarized, put your will in a safe place and consider letting your named executor and alternate executor know where it is. Destroy all unsigned and draft copies, as well as any prior wills or codicils. You are finished
