Wills and Estate Planning Forms
Download easy-to-use Will Kits, estate planning checklists, and provisional will clauses to help you write your Last Will and Testament. You can also find forms for executors.
Why You Need to Make a Will
If you own property or assets, you need to make a will. If you die intestate (without a legal will in place), your loved ones may be left with no choice but to apply to the court for letters of administration. The court will then decide how your estate will be divided up among your heirs. That division will be done in accordance with the laws of succession that govern in your area, and it may not be the way you would have distributed your property if you had had any say in the matter.
If you want to be the one who makes those decisions, you must make a properly executed will before you die. Your Last Will and Testament will then dictate who the beneficiaries of your estate will be, and how much of your estate each of them will receive.
Estate Planning Forms for Everyone
Even if you do not own a lot of assets or property, a good estate plan is essential to ensure that all of them are dealt with in your will and trusts (if any), and to assist your executors after your death in distributing your estate assets according to your wishes.
Additional Resources
William Shakespeare Last Will and Testament
Download a free copy of the Last Will and Testament of William Shakespeare (1564-1616).
- William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. He is often referred to as England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard").
- Shakespeare's surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems.
- His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
The foregoing biographical information on Shakespeare is quoted from Wikipedia.
Personal Property Memorandum
Use this free Personal Property Memorandum to pass on items of personal property to loved ones, in conjunection with your Last Will and Testament.
Some states and provinces allow a testator (a person executing a will) to pass certain personal property to beneficiaries by using a written statement (memorandum) that can then be referenced in their Will.
The benefit to using a separate Memorandum form to list these items is that if you make any changes to it, you can replace the Memorandum without having to redo your Will.
You can use this downloadable free Personal Property Memorandum to leave personal belongings to family members, friends, and other beneficiaries as part of your estate plan. This document is designed to work together with your Will and helps simplify the transfer of your personal property after death.
What Is a Personal Property Memorandum?
A Personal Property Memorandum is a written document used to pass on any of your personal possessions that are NOT real estate, cash, or investment assets.
Common items included in a Personal Property Memorandum may include personal property not otherwise specifically addressed in the will, such as:
- Jewelry
- Furniture
- Artwork
- Family heirlooms
- Antiques
- Electronics
- Collectibles
- Household goods
- Vehicles.
Benefits of Using a Personal Property Memorandum
Using this free Personal Property Memorandum offers several important estate planning advantages:
1. You Can Avoid Rewriting Your Will
One of the biggest benefits of a Personal Property Memorandum is flexibility. If you later decide to change which person is to receive a specific item, you can simply create a new memorandum instead of preparing an entirely new will.
2. You can Keep Your Estate Plan Organized
A separate Personal Property Memorandum gives you a way to maintain a detailed list of personal belongings and beneficiaries in one convenient document.
3. It Helps Reduce Family Disputes
Clearly identifying the recipients of your sentimental or valuable personal property can help reduce misunderstandings and conflicts among surviving family members.
4. It is Easy to Complete
This downloadable Personal Property Memorandum template includes instructions to help you properly complete and sign the document.
Legal Requirements
In general, a Personal Property Memorandum must typically meet the following requirements:
- It must be specifically referenced in your Last Will and Testament.
- It must adequately describe the items and beneficiaries so that your estate executor can know with reasonable certainty which items / beneficiaries are being referred to.
- It must be signed and dated.
You should check the legal requirements in the state / province / territory that you live in, to determine if there are other requirements or restrictions on using a Personal Property Memorandum.
Once completed, the Memorandum should be kept with your original Will and your other estate planning documents (power of attorney, advance directive, etc.)
Download the Free Template
This free Personal Property Memorandum template is:
- Downloadable instantly
- Fully editable
- Easy to use.
Help ensure your personal belongings are distributed according to your wishes with this simple and convenient estate planning document.
