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Build your will and legacy plan

About 15 minutes. Free. Your answers are saved on this device only, so you can stop and come back.

MyLastWill is self-help software and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. On a shared computer? Choose “Start over” on the last step when you're done.

What would you like to do?

Choose one. You can come back and change it.

Write my willA complete will: who inherits, who's in charge, and gifts to the causes you choose. Add causes to the will I haveGet a codicil (a short amendment) and gift wording to share with your attorney. Give through my accountsName charities as beneficiaries of an IRA, 401(k), life insurance policy or bank account. No will needed, and often the most tax-smart gift.

Please choose one to continue.

About you

Use your full legal name, the way it appears on official documents.

Your full legal name

Please enter your full name.

State where you live

Please choose your state.

City or county (optional)

I have a living trust

Date your current will was signed (optional)

Look at the signature page of your will. If you can't find it, leave this blank and fill it in by hand.

Are you married?

Yes No

Your spouse's full name

Do you have children?

Include adopted children and children from earlier relationships.

Yes No

Your children's full names

One or more of my children is under 18

Your loved ones

This covers the part of your estate that doesn't go to causes. Next, you'll decide how much goes to causes.

Who should inherit it?

My spouse, then my childrenEverything to your spouse. If your spouse doesn't survive you, your children share it equally. My children, equallyYour children share it in equal parts. If you're married, talk with an attorney: your spouse may have a legal right to a share. My spouseEverything to your spouse. If your spouse doesn't survive you, to any children or grandchildren you have then. People I'll nameName the people and set each person's share.

People who inherit, and their shares

If someone I name dies before me, their share goes to their children

Who will be in charge?

Your executor pays debts, handles paperwork and makes sure your wishes are carried out. Choose someone organized and trustworthy, and ask them first.

Executor's full name

Backup executor (recommended)

Who would raise your children?

A guardian cares for your children if you and their other parent can't.

Guardian's full name

Backup guardian (optional)

Who should manage money your children inherit until they're grown? (optional)

Often the guardian, but it can be someone else. If you leave this blank, your executor chooses.

Your legacy

Which accounts would you like to name causes on?

Traditional IRA Roth IRA 401(k), 403(b) or other workplace plan Life insurance Bank account (payable on death) Brokerage account (transfer on death)

Roughly what will pass under your will?Roughly what are those accounts worth in total?

Count property in your name alone, such as your home, bank and investment accounts, and belongings, minus debts. Leave out retirement accounts, life insurance and anything with a named beneficiary or a joint owner: those pass outside your will. A rough guess is fine; it's only used to show dollar amounts.

A rough guess is fine. It's only used to show dollar amounts and never appears in your documents.

How would you like to give?

A share of my estate A set dollar amount

How much of your estate should go to causes?How much of these accounts should go to causes?

10%

Any amount is meaningful. A percentage grows or shrinks with your estate, so if your estate shrinks, your gift shrinks too, rather than coming out of your family's share.

Dollar amount to leave to causes

Add a backstop (optional). If no one I name in my will survives me, everything goes to my causes.

The people you name, and their children where you've chosen that, always come first. Without a backstop, state law would give that property to your other relatives, such as parents, brothers and sisters, or cousins, or to the state if there are none. With it, they won't inherit unless you name them.

Choose your causes

Pick up to 8. Then slide each one to show how much it matters to you; we'll turn that into percentages.

Choose at least one cause to continue. If you'd rather not give to causes, go back, set your gift to 0% and turn off the backstop.

How should your gift be given?

Let research guide it RecommendedYour will dedicates each gift to the cause you chose and asks your executor to give it to the most effective organizations working on that cause when the time comes, guided by published research. Name specific charitiesChoose the exact organizations you want to receive each gift. Create my own named fundA foundation-style fund in your name, or a loved one's, that keeps giving to your causes for years or forever.

Your charities

Use each organization's full legal name. Its tax ID (EIN) is optional but helps your executor; you can find it with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.

Your named fund

What should it be called?

How long should it keep giving?

About 10 years About 25 years Forever

Spending down sooner puts more money to work while today's best opportunities last. A permanent fund gives about 5% a year, forever.

Advisors who will recommend grants (optional)

Often children or grandchildren. Advisors suggest grants; the fund's sponsor makes sure every grant goes to a qualified charity.

Its mission, in your own words (optional)

Ask MyLastWill's research team to recommend the most effective grants within my causes

Your documents

Read them carefully. Fill in any blanks by hand, then print and sign following the checklist.

Email my attorney

Before you sign: MyLastWill.org is not a law firm, and these documents are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. They are drafts prepared from your answers. A will must be signed the way your state requires to be valid. We recommend having an estate attorney review it, especially if your estate is large, you own a business, you have a blended family, or you want a trust or private foundation.

Would you tell us about your gift? (optional)

It helps us thank you, confirm the right legal names, and plan our research. It's never a binding promise: you can change your will at any time.

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MyLastWill.org is not a law firm, and its tools and articles are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. We don't give legal, tax or financial advice. Our tools help you prepare documents from your own answers. For advice about your situation, talk with a licensed attorney or tax professional.