How To Write A Simple Will

Yes, mum and dad wrote their wills and left you out of it. Now’s your chance to alter the will and forge signatures so that they leave their 10 million dollar inheritance with you instead. So, how do we write a will, by any chance? That’s probably the hard part, isn’t it? With all the legal hoo-hahs and terminologies, it’s quite hard to figure out what you should write, that can be deemed to be ‘legal’. Here’s how you write a simple, but legal will:

(Template of a Simple Will)

WILL

I, <insert name and I.C. number>______________________ of <insert house address>______________________, HEREBY REVOKE all wills and testamentary dispositions hereto before made by me AND DECLARE this to be my last Will and Testament.

1. I appoint<insert name and I.C. number>______________________ of <insert house address>______________________ to be the Executor and Trustee of my Will.
2. My executor shall hold all my property both movable and immoveable whatsoever and wheresoever situate and my ready money to pay my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses and subject thereto I give the following legacies in the manner hereunder:
   1. I give my <insert number of shares>______________________ of the immovable property held under <insert house address>______________________ to <insert name and I.C. number>______________________ absolutely.
   2. I bequeath all my residuary property whatsoever and wheresoever situate to <insert name and I.C. number>______________________.
3. If <insert name>______________________ shall die during my lifetime, then my <insert number of shares>______________________ of the immovable property held under <insert house address>______________________, I bequeath to <insert names of persons>______________________ as follows:
   1. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________………….1/2 share (example).
   2. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________………….1/4 share (example).
   3. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________………….1/8 share (example).
   4. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________………….1/8 share (example).

   But if any of <the above persons>______________________ named above dies before me then his/her share of my immovable property shall be divided equally by the remaining surviving beneficiaries from above;

   AND

   I bequeath all my residuary property to the following beneficiaries with the respective shares indicated:

   1. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________……………..1/4 share
   2. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________……………..1/2 share
   3. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________……………..1/8 share
   4. <insert name and I.C. number>______________________……………..1/8 share

   But if any of <the above persons>______________________ named above dies before me then his/her share of my residuary property shall be divided equally by the remaining surviving beneficiaries from above.

   IN WITNESS THEREOF I have hereunto set my hand this <insert date>__________ day of <insert month>_______ 2008.
   Signed by the above named                             )
   Testator,<insert name>__________________   )
   as his last Will and Testament                          )
   in the presence of us both present                    )
   at the same time who at his                             )          …………………………………………
   request in his presence and in                          )          (Signature of Testator)
   the presence of each other have                       )
   hereunto subscribed our names                        )
   as witnesses.                                                  )

   Signature of First Witness & NRIC No.: ……………………………………
   Full Name (BLOCK LETTERS): ………………………………………….
   Address: ………………………………………..

   Signature of Second Witness & NRIC No.: …………………………………..
   Full Name (BLOCK LETTERS): ………………………………………….
   Address: ………………………………………..

I adapted this simple will from a template that I wrote for someone previously. Enjoy.