Family
United States of America
Last Will and Testament
  • Don't let the courts decide the fate of your estate.
  • Divide your estate as you see fit.
  • Appoint guardians for minor children.
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Complete your Last Will in 3 easy steps:
Monitor
Answer the questions below and click the "View Results" button.
Printer
Preview and print your completed document instantly.
Document
Sign and execute your document.
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We regularly maintain this contract. Last updated March 2011

Your Information (USA)


Enter the name and personal information of the person the Last Will is for.
(e.g. Dallas)
(Required)
Select the state where you currently live and have a permanent residence.

You must select a state where you currently have a permanent residence.

Purpose of Will
Last Will Overview

Personal Representative/Executor


The executor is the person you chose to administer your estate.
One executor is normally sufficient. If you have two executors, they must be able to work together and AGREE on each decision to be made.

Executor Information

(e.g. Dallas)
Executor

Alternate Personal Representative/Executor


The Alternate Executor will assume ALL responsibility for administering your estate if the executor that you had selected is unable or unwilling to act or continue to act as your Executor.

Children

List all children from any relationship, born to you or legally adopted by you.

Note: You must list ALL children. Any child not specifically named in your Will may have the right to claim against your Will as if no Will had been created.

Trustee


The trustee is the person with the authority and responsibility to manage property on behalf your minor beneficiaries until they are legally capable of managing their own affairs.


Disposing of Your Estate


Divide up your estate in two steps:

First: Assign specific gifts to specific people. For example you might give a classic car to a favorite nephew.

Second: What is left after you have provided specific gifts is called the remainder or residue of your estate. The residue of your estate will be divided among other people you choose. Note: A beneficiary may receive a specific gift and also share in the residue of your estate.
Dividing Your Estate

Specific Gifts


Use this section if you want to give a specific gift to a specific person. Make sure you describe the gift well enough that anyone reading your Will would recognize what you mean. Clearly identify the beneficiary.

Residue of Estate


The "residue" of your estate is everything that is left over after your debts are paid and the specific gifts have been given.
Indicate how many beneficiaries you wish to name for the residue of your estate:


First Beneficiary of Estate Residue


(e.g. "Dallas, Texas" or "Halifax, Nova Scotia")

Who will get this portion of your estate if this beneficiary dies before you?

The total of all shares must add up to 100 shares. Currently, they add up to 0 shares.

Wipeout Clause


If none of your named beneficaries or alternates survive you, then the law may treat all or the remainder of your estate as if you had died without leaving a Last Will.

If it is possible that all of your immediate family (including your children and grandchildren) could predecease you or die at the same time as you in a common accident, it is prudent to provide a means to distribute the residue of your estate.

Forgive Debts

Pet Guardian

Additional Clauses

Witnesses and Execution Date


The signing requirements can be slightly different in each jurisdiction.

*** Please select a state in the Signing Jurisdiction section - See Above ***
(e.g. Dallas)
Indicate the city or town where you and your witnesses will sign.


After Signing

Additional Help

1. Who may make a Last Will?
The requirements for who may create a Last Will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Please select a state in the Signing Location section to see the requirements in your jurisdiction.

2. Who must sign my Last Will?
The requirements for signing and witnessing a Last Will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Please select a state in the Signing Location section to see the requirements in your jurisdiction.

Signing 'in the presence of' another means the other parties actually watch the signing. The Testator and the witnesses should initial the bottom right hand corner of each page of the Last Will (except the last page which is signed by everyone). Witnesses should NOT be individuals who will be receiving gifts in the Will or the spouses of individuals receiving gifts in the Will.

3. What is a self-proving Will?
Normally a witness will be required to testify in probate court that the Last Will was executed properly. Alternatively, this requirement may be satisfied by having each witness swear an oath and sign an affidavit in front of a notary. This removes the requirement of having one of your witnesses go to court to verify proper execution. If available in your state, the required form will be included with your Last Will.