Last Will and Testament Template

A clean, plain-English will for a simple estate, with instructions.

Planning your own farewell? A will says who gets what, who is in charge, and who raises your children. Without one, the state decides all three. This template covers a simple estate. Fill it in, sign it the right way for your state, and tell someone where it is.

Planning for someone you love? If the person left no will, this template will not help with their estate; an estate attorney or the probate court can. But if their death has you thinking about your own, start here.

This is a general template, not legal advice. Laws differ by state. Have an attorney review before signing. It is written for a simple estate: no trust, no business, no property in more than one state, no blended-family complications. If any of those apply, use an attorney.

What a will does, and does not do

A will names a personal representative (some states say executor), gives specific items to specific people, divides everything else in shares, and names a guardian for children under 18. It does not control accounts with a named beneficiary (life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death bank accounts), which pass by the beneficiary form no matter what the will says. It does not avoid probate. And it should not hold your funeral wishes, because wills are often read after the funeral. Those go on a separate page, included with the template.

Before you begin

1. Decide who gets what. Specific gifts first, then the rest in shares.
2. Choose a personal representative and an alternate. Organized, and reasonably close by.
3. If you have children under 18, choose a guardian and an alternate. Ask them first.
4. Decide what happens if a beneficiary dies before you. The template's default sends their share to their children. You can change that to the other beneficiaries instead.
5. Leave out your Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords. A will becomes a public record.
6. Married or partnered? Each person signs their own will. Not one joint will.

What is in the template

Article 1, revocation of earlier wills. Article 2, family, including children born later. Article 3, personal representative, alternate, no bond, and standard powers. Article 4, debts and expenses. Article 5, up to five specific gifts with a 30-day survivorship rule. Article 6, the residuary estate in percentages, with a per stirpes default and a checkbox to change it. Article 7, guardian of minor children and alternate. Article 8, survivorship. Article 9, general provisions. Then a signature page for two witnesses, a self-proving affidavit with a notary block, and a separate "My wishes" page that is not part of the will.

Signing it correctly

Every state requires that you sign in front of witnesses, and the details differ. In most states that means two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries, signing in your presence and each other's. Most states also allow a self-proving affidavit, signed before a notary, so the witnesses never have to appear in court. A few states do not. Louisiana has its own requirements. The State Requirements Guide has one row per state with a link to the official rule.

Then store the signed original somewhere fireproof and tell your personal representative where it is. A photocopy is not a will.

When not to use a template

If you own a business, own property in more than one state, have a child with a disability who receives benefits, are in a second marriage with children from the first, expect anyone to contest the will, or have an estate large enough for estate tax, use an attorney. The cost of a simple will from an attorney is small next to the cost of getting one of those wrong.

Preview the template

Related resources

• Living Will Template
• State Requirements Guide
• Account and Password Manager

Find help near you

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