If your language is ambiguous or your intentions are not clear it could lead to instructions not being followed properly or the will being ruled invalid. Ensure you seek professional advice when writing a will, and that all of the proper steps are taken, including having the will witnessed.
For example, a survivorship clause might state "A beneficiary must survive me by 30 days to receive any bequest under this will. If a beneficiary does not survive me by 30 days, their share shall pass as if they predeceased me."
More general clauses imposing a survivorship condition on all beneficiaries are also possible though, for example: “Every person who would benefit under this Will but who fails to survive me by 30 days shall be treated for the purposes of the devolution of my estate as having predeceased me.”
Examples of Residuary Clause Wording “I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, real and personal, of whatever nature and wherever situated, to Name of Beneficiary, if they survive me.
A residuary clause outlines what should happen to any property that has not been addressed in your documents or assigned to a beneficiary. Without a residuary clause, your loved ones may be subjected to complications in the probate or trust administration process.
Examples of Residuary Clause Wording “I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, real and personal, of whatever nature and wherever situated, to Name of Beneficiary, if they survive me.
You normally need not get very specific, unless an object is particularly valuable. It is enough to list the location of the property: "all household furnishings and possessions in the apartment at 55 Drury Lane."
The executor or administrator must file a petition with the probate court seeking permission to sell the house. This petition should include details about the property and the proposed sale. Property Appraisal: The court may require an independent appraisal of the property to determine its fair market value.
REAL PROPERTY Land and things attached to land; buildings, fences, walls, trees, growing crops, etc. SPOUSE ALLOWANCE The surviving spouse's right to request up to $2000 from the personal representative in addition to any provisions for his/her benefit contained in a Will or by intestate law.
A codicil to a will is a legal document used to make minor changes to your existing will without having to rewrite the entire document. It's a flexible tool for updating your estate plan when there are minor changes. Codicils must be executed with the same formalities as a will to ensure validity.