Last Will and Testament: Definition and How to Write One

What Is a Last Will and Testament?

A last will and testament is a legal document that communicates a person's final wishes pertaining to their assets. It provides specific instructions about what to do with their possessions. It will indicate whether the deceased leaves them to another person, a group, or wishes to donate them to charity.

A last will and testament can also handle matters involving dependents, the management of accounts, and financial interests.

Some states allow for non-standard or unusual wills, such as a holographic will, while others do not.

What Shouldn't Be Included in a Will

Property you hold jointly with someone else
Funeral plans: these should be in a separate document easily accessible after death by family or executor
Life insurance policies and retirement accounts: these should have beneficiaries designated on the account forms so they bypass probate and flow directly to the intended recipients