Will Templates - Sample Last Will & Testaments

Below you can find details of the usual format of a will but your bank, solicitor or Citizens Advice Bureau can show you different formats to suit your particular situation.

1. The will should be laid out in paragraphs numbered in sequence after a first paragraph which confirms the nature of the document (will or codicil) and states your name, address and occupation or, if you are without an occupation, your status (married, widow etc.). The first words of each paragraph should be in block capitals and underlined.

2. The order of the paragraphs should be:
a) A clause beginning I REVOKE to revoke all previous testamentary dispositions if that is your intention;

b) A clause beginning I APPOINT which deals with the appointment of executors and trustees;

c) A clause beginning I GIVE which sets out any legacies of money which you might wish to make;

d) A clause beginning I BEQUEATH which sets out any gifts of specific articles which you wish to make;

e) A clause beginning I DEVISE which sets out any gifts of freehold land or buildings;

f) A clause beginning I GIVE DEVISE BEQUEATH AND APPOINT which deals with any remaining property you may have to dispose of;

g) Separate clauses or sub-clauses giving your execu¬tors additional powers or excluding powers which the law gives them by default;

h) A clause beginning I EXPRESS the wish, which sets out your wishes in relation to your funeral and the disposal of your body after your death;

i) A clause beginning IN WITNESS explaining that you have signed your will and stating the date on which it is signed unless the date has been stated in the introductory paragraph; and finally;

j) A clause called an attestation clause that explains the circumstances in which the will was signed and witnessed being SIGNED.

If you are unable to read, this clause should explain that the will had been read over to you before you signed it and the two witnesses then signed it in your presence. In these circumstances it should also state that you understood and approved the will.

If you are unable to sign the will, the clause should explain that it is signed by a named person for you, at your request and in the joint presence of yourself and two witnesses, who then signed the will in your presence and the presence of the person who signed for you.

3. All names should be set out in full, in capitals and underlined. Addresses of all parties should also be included.

4. Sums of money should be stated in words in underlined block capitals followed by the sum in brackets in figures e.g. THREE THOUSAND POUNDS (£3000)

Links to will templates

Making a Will - Organising a Last Will & Testament

• If you know you have a terminal illness then making a will isn’t something that can wait. To avoid any disputes after your death you need to make a will while you are still capable, competent and able to do so independently.
• You may think you have nothing to leave and so there is no point in making a will. However, if you own property, personal effects such as a stereo, TV or a car this can add up. If you also have life insurance payable on your death then your estate could be worth a considerable amount.
• Wills aren’t just about money and property. You can also make it clear what funeral arrangements you would like and what you want to happen to your body, for example if you wish your ashes to be scattered somewhere specific. You can also make provision for the future care of children and name guardians. This is the place to make clear any specific arrangements you want carried out after your death.
• Your money and assets will not pass automatically to your spouse or children. If you don’t leave a will there are laws governing the amount your wife or husband can inherit. For example, in England & Wales, if you are the surviving partner and you have children the estate will be split in the following way.
  • The surviving spouse or civil partner receives personal property (known as chattels), a statutory legacy (what the government allows by law) of £125,000 and an interest for the rest of their life in half of the residue (what is left after legacies, debt payments, funeral expenses and inheritance tax).
  • If the estate is worth less than £125,000 the surviving partner receives it all. If it is more - then the children get the other half of any residue, divided equally.
• A will does not have to be a complex legal document. Your bank can help you make a will or you can do a DIY will . However, by working with a solicitor you can ensure that there are no problems with your will and it will be effective on your death.
• Your will should detail all your money, property and possessions. You should state who you want to benefit (beneficiaries) and what they should get. You also need to appoint guardians for children under 18 and get the agreement of executors who will carry out what you have detailed in your will.
• Executors can be family members, friends, bank managers, s...