Video Wills
There really is no such thing as a video will or a digital will. It’s still the law that to be valid, a will must be on paper and signed.
Revoking a Will
When you search for the will of a deceased person, you may come across a very old document. If you find a seemingly outdated document, is it still val...
How a Will Can Be Challenged
If a will doesn't fulfill certain legal requirements, or the maker of the will was not of sound mind, a would-be heir or beneficiary can challenge it ...
The Executor's Duties: An Overview
Here’s a summary of what you’ll be doing when you serve as an executor.
Joint Wills
A joint will is a single will that’s signed by two people, usually a married couple, leaving all their assets to each other. Seems simple and sensib...
Should There Be a New Will?
If someone wants you to serve as an executor, it’s a good idea to ask for a look at the will. You may see potential problems, and you might want enc...
Statutory Wills
A few states--California, Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin--offer very basic fill-in-the-blanks wills for their residents to use. Because the terms of t...
Pour-Over Wills
When people make revocable living trusts to avoid probate, it’s common for them to also make what’s called a “pour-over will.” The will direct...
Are Oral Wills Valid?
An oral will, which is also called a nuncupative or deathbed will, is a will that is spoken to witnesses, not written. Such wills are valid only in a ...
Testamentary Trusts
A testamentary trust will operates in conjunction with one or more trusts that you create, by generally providing that all or part of your assets are ...
Deathbed Wills
When someone facing imminent death signs a new will, it can be as valid and binding as one made at home or in a lawyer’s office.
Self-Proving Wills
A “self-proving” will is one that comes with something extra: a sworn statement from the witnesses who watched the will-maker sign the will.
Handwritten or Holographic Wills
A holographic or handwritten will can be a binding legal document, in some states and in some circumstances.
Removing the Executor of a Will
A court can always remove an executor who is dishonest or seriously incompetent.
Living Wills
A living will, despite its name, isn't at all like the wills that people use to leave property at their death.
Wills and Trust Glossary
Here are some legal terms you may run across as you serve as an executor. For many more definitions, see Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary.
Famous Wills
Here are the last wills and testaments of some of the most influential people in American history and popular culture. From George Washington to Elvis...
