Beginning Information

This will form is for a single, divorced, or widowed person without any minor or adult children.

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.

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 imitation, 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.

Specific Bequests - Distribution of Personal Property

You may leave specific bequests to relatives or x-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.

Specific Bequests - 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):

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%.

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