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Jasper L. Edwards
Simple Will for Single Persons with No Children.
If you are single with no kids and you're not planning on having kids down the road, it's still wise to think about estate planning and writing a last will and testament. You may use this simple will for a single person to say what happens to your possessions, pets, accounts, etc., after your death. And also to select the person or organization which will oversee the legal process. Our question and answer structure creates a simple will for unmarried people. This basic will should be used for:
Individuals with No Children if:
You are single and you do not have any kids.
You own land, including digital assets, to be managed and distributed after your death.
You would like to designate the persons or organizations which will inherit the assets you own.
You would like to designate someone to ensure specific conditions of your last will and Testament have been followed.
In case your estate is larger than the federal estate tax exemption amount, which is presently at $5,120,000; then you might contact a lawyer for more complicated estate planning. Digital assets may include any on-line accounts or files stored on a PC or server. Samples of electronic assets are: photograph and document sharing web sites, fiscal and business accounts, domain names, virtual real estate, computer files, e-mail accounts, blogs, social networking web sites, and on-line backup solutions. You may use this simple will for single person to determine what happens to your all of the above after your death and to pick the individual or organization which will oversee it all.
SIMPLE WILL FOR SINGLE PERSON
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF
__________________________
BE IT KNOWN THIS DAY THAT,
I,_________________________ , of ______________________County,
________________________, being of legal age and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not acting under duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence of any person, do make, declare and publish this to be my Will and hereby revoke any Will or Codicil I may have made.
ARTICLE ONE
Marriage and Children
I am single and have no children.
ARTICLE TWO
Debts and Expenses
I direct my Personal Representative to pay all costs and expenses of my last illness and funeral expenses. I further direct my Personal Representative to pay all of my just debts that may be probated, registered and allowed against my estate. However, this provision shall not extend the statute of limitations for the payment of debts, or enlarge upon my legal obligation or any statutory duty of my Personal Representative to pay debts.
ARTICLE THREE
Specific Bequests of Real and/or Personal Property
I will, give and bequeath unto the persons named below, if he or she survives me, the Property described below:
Name/Address/Relationship Property Description
[LIST OR STATE NO PROPERTY LEFT UNDER THIS ARTICLE]
In the event I name a person in this Article and said person predeceases me, the bequest to such person shall lapse and the property shall pass under the other provisions of this Will. In the event that I do not possess or own any property listed above on the date of my death, the bequest of that property shall lapse.
ARTICLE FOUR
Homestead or Primary Residence
I will, devise and bequeath all my interest in my homestead or primary residence, if I own a homestead or primary residence on the date of my death that passes through this Will, to ________________________, if he or she survives me. If he or she does not survive me, then my homestead or primary residence shall pass under the residuary clause of this Will.
ARTICLE FIVE
All Remaining Property – Residuary Clause
I will, devise, bequeath and give all the rest and remainder of my property and estate of every kind and character, including, but not limited to, real and personal property in which I may have an interest at the date of my death and which is not otherwise effectively disposed of, to:
_____________________________ and ________________________, equally, per stirpes. [Name person or persons to receive residuary estate. Per stirpes means the descendents of the persons you name will receive the property left to that person if they predecease you] Signed if Selected: ________________________________________
OR
_______________________ and ________________________, equally, or the survivor. [Name person or persons to receive estate. Survivor means if one of the persons dies before you die, the other person will receive your entire residuary estate]
Signed if Selected: __________________________
ARTICLE SIX
Appointment of Personal Representative, Executor or Executrix
I hereby appoint ______________________, as Personal Representative of my estate and this Will. In the event my Personal Representative shall predecease me, or, for any reason, shall fail to qualify or cease to act as my Personal Representative, then I hereby appoint _____________________ to serve as successor Personal Representative of my estate and Will.
The term “Personal Representative”, as used in this Will, shall be deemed to mean and include “Personal Representative”, “Executor” or “Executrix”.
ARTICLE SEVEN
Waiver of Bond, Inventory, Accounting, Reporting and Approval
My Personal Representative and successor Personal Representative shall serve without any bond, and I hereby waive the necessity of preparing or filing any inventory, accounting, appraisal, reporting, approvals or final appraisement of my estate.
ARTICLE EIGHT
Powers of Personal Representative, Executor and Executrix
I direct that my Personal Representative shall have broad discretion in the administration of my Estate, without the necessity of Court approval. I grant unto my Personal Representative, all powers that are allowed to be exercised by Personal Representatives by the laws of the State of ________________ and to the extent not prohibited by the laws of ____________________, the following additional powers:
1. To exercise all of the powers, rights and discretions granted by virtue of any “Uniform Trustees’ Powers Law,” and/or “Probate Code” adopted by the State of ____________________.
2. To compromise claims and to abandon property which, in my Executor’s opinion is of little or no value.
3. To purchase or otherwise acquire and to retain any and all stocks, bonds, notes or other securities, or shares or interests in investment trusts and common trust funds, or in any other property, real, personal or mixed, as my Personal Representative may deem advisable, whether or not such investments or property be of the character permissible by fiduciaries, without being liable to any person for such retention or investment.
4. To settle, adjust, dissolve, windup or continue any partnership or other entity in which I may own a partnership or equity interest at the time of my death, subject, however, to the terms of any partnership or other agreement to which I am a party at the time of my death. I authorize my Personal Representative to continue in any partnership or other entity for such periods and upon such terms as they shall determine. My Personal Representative shall not be disqualified by reason of being a partner, equity owner or title holder in such firm from participating on behalf of my estate in any dealings herein authorized to be carried on between my Personal Representative and the partners or equity owners of any such partnership or other entity.
To lease, sale, or offer on a lease purchase, any real or personal property for such time and upon such terms and conditions in such manner as may be deemed advisable by my Personal Representative, all without court approval.
6. To sell, exchange, assign, transfer and convey any security or property, real or personal, held in my estate, or in any trust, at public or private sale, at such time and price and upon such terms and conditions (including credit) as my Personal Representative may deem advisable and for the best interest of my estate, or any trust. I hereby waive any requirement of issuing summons, giving notice of any hearing, conducting or holding any such hearing, filing bond or other security, or in any way obtaining court authority or approval for any such sale, exchange, assignment, transfer or conveyance of any real or personal property.
7. To pay all necessary expenses of administering the estate and any trust including taxes, trustees’ fees, fees for the services of accountants, agents and attorneys, and to reimburse said parties for expenses incurred on behalf of the estate or any trust hereunder.
8. Unless otherwise specifically provided, to make distributions (including the satisfaction of any pecuniary bequest) in cash or in specific property, real or personal, or in an undivided interest therein, or partly in cash and partly in other property, and to do so with or without regard to the income tax basis of specific property allocated to any beneficiary and without making pro rata distributions of specific assets.
9. To determine what is principal and what is income with respect to all receipts and disbursements; to establish and maintain reserves for depreciation, depletion, obsolescence, taxes, insurance premiums, and any other purpose deemed necessary and proper by them and to partite and to distribute property of the estate or trust in kind or in undivided interests, and to determine the value of such property.
10. To participate in any plan of reorganization, consolidation, dissolution, redemption, or similar proceedings involving assets comprising my estate or any trust created hereunder, and to deposit or withdraw securities under any such proceedings.
11. To perform such acts, to participate in such proceedings and to exercise such other rights and privileges in respect to any property, as if she or he were the absolute owner thereof, and in connection therewith to enter into and execute any and all agreements binding my estate and any trust created hereunder.
12. To compromise, settle or adjust any claim or demand by or against my estate, or any trust, to litigate any such claims, including, without limitation, any claims relating to estate or income taxes, or agree to rescind or modify any contract or agreement.
13. To borrow money from such source or sources and upon such terms and conditions as my Personal Representative shall determine, and to give such security therefor as my Personal Representative may determine.
All authorities and powers hereinabove granted unto my Personal Representative shall be exercised from time to time in her or his sole and absolute discretion and without prior authority or approval of any Court, and I intend that such powers be construed in the broadest possible extent.
ARTICLE NINE
Construction Intentions
It is my intent that this Will be interpreted according to the following provisions:
The masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine as well as the neuter, and vice versa, as to each of them; the singular shall be deemed to include the plural, and vice versa.
The term “testator” as used herein is deemed to include me as Testator or Testatrix.
This Will is not a result of a contract between myself and any beneficiary, fiduciary or third party and I may revoke this Will at any time.
If any part of this Will shall be declared invalid, illegal, or inoperative for any reason, it is my expressed intent that the remaining parts shall be effective and fully operative and it is my intent that any Court so interpreting same construct this Will and any provision in favor of survival.
ARTICLE TEN
Misc. Provisions
I direct that this Will and the construction thereof shall be governed by the Laws of the State of _____________________.
(I have placed my initials next to the provisions below that I desire to adopt. Unmarked provisions are not adopted by me and are not a part of this Will)
_____ If any person named herein is indebted to me at the time of my death and such indebtedness be evidenced by a valid Promissory Note payable to me, then such person’s portion of my estate shall be diminished by the amount of such debt.
_____ Any and all debts of my estate shall first be paid from my residuary estate. Any debts on any real property left herein shall be assumed by the person to receive such real property and not paid by my Personal Representative.
_____ If any beneficiary under this Will contests this Will in any manner, directly or indirectly, or attacks this Will or any of its provisions, any share or interest in my estate given to the contesting beneficiary shall lapse and said beneficiary shall instead receive the sum of $100.00 under this Will. Any share or interest so lapsing shall be disposed of as if the contesting beneficiary had predeceased me without issue.
_____ I desire to be buried in the ______________________ cemetery in ________________ County, ______________________.
_____ I direct that my remains be cremated and that the ashes be disposed of according to the wishes of my Executor.
I, _____________________________, having signed this Will in the presence of ________________________________ and who attested it at my request on this the _____ day of ________________, 20____ at ___________________________________________________(address), declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.
______________________________
Testator/Testatrix
The above and foregoing Will of ___________________________ (name of testator/testatrix) was declared by __________________________ (name of testator/testatrix) in our view and presence to be his/her Will and was signed and subscribed by the said ________________________________ (name of testator/testatrix) in our view and presence and at his/her request and in the view and presence of __________________________________ (name of testator/testatrix) and in the view and presence of each other, we, the undersigned, witnessed and attested the due execution of the Will of ____________________________ (name of testator/testatrix)on this the ____ day of ____________________, 20___ .
Witness Signature Witness Signature
Print Name: Print Name:
Address: Address:
Telephone No. Telephone No.
_______________________ Self Proving Affidavit
“I,__________________________, the testator/testatrix, sign my name to this instrument this ____ day of ________________, 20___ , and being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that I sign and execute this instrument as my last will and that I sign it willingly (or willingly direct another to sign for me), that I execute it as my free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed, and that I am 18 years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.”
___________________________________
Testator/Testatrix
“We,______________________, the witnesses, sign our names to this instrument, being first duly sworn, and do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the testator/testatrix signs and executes this instrument as his or her last will and that he or she signs it willingly (or willingly directs another to sign for him or her), and that each of us, in the presence and hearing of the testator/testatrix, hereby signs this will as witness to the testator’s/testatrix’s signing, and that to the best of our knowledge the testator/testatrix is 18 years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.”
___________________________________
Witness
___________________________________
Witness
State of ________________________
County of ______________________
Subscribed, sworn to and acknowledged before me by ________________, the testator/testatrix and subscribed and sworn to before me by ________________________, and ______________________________, witnesses, this ______ day of _______________, 20___ .
SEAL
(Signed) ____________________________
_____________________________
(Official Capacity of Officer)
END
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