Personal Property Memorandum
PERSONAL PROPERTY MEMORANDUM
State of Delaware
Table of Contents
- Declarant Identification
- Reference to Last Will and Testament
- Statutory Authority
- Distribution of Tangible Personal Property
- Special Instructions
- General Provisions
- Instructions for Future Changes
- Execution
- Sources and References
1. DECLARANT IDENTIFICATION
I, [FULL LEGAL NAME], currently residing at [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Delaware [ZIP CODE], being of sound mind and acting voluntarily, do hereby prepare this Personal Property Memorandum as authorized by 12 Del. Code § 212.
Date of Birth: [__/__/____]
2. REFERENCE TO LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
This Memorandum is prepared in connection with my Last Will and Testament dated [__/__/____], which contains a provision referring to this or a similar writing for the disposition of tangible personal property. My will includes the following or substantially similar language:
"I may leave a written statement or list disposing of items of tangible personal property not otherwise specifically disposed of by this Will. Any such writing shall be given effect pursuant to 12 Del. Code § 212."
3. STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This Memorandum is authorized by 12 Del. Code § 212, which provides that a will may refer to a written statement or list to dispose of items of tangible personal property not otherwise specifically disposed of by the will, other than money, evidences of indebtedness, documents of title, securities, and property used in trade or business. To be admissible, the writing must either be in the handwriting of the testator or be signed by the testator and must identify the items and the legatees with reasonable certainty.
Property NOT covered by this Memorandum:
- ☐ Money or currency
- ☐ Evidences of indebtedness
- ☐ Documents of title
- ☐ Securities (stocks, bonds, etc.)
- ☐ Property used in trade or business
- ☐ Real property
4. DISTRIBUTION OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY
I direct that the following items of tangible personal property be distributed to the persons named below. If a named recipient does not survive me, the item shall pass to the alternate recipient, if any, or otherwise as part of my residuary estate.
Jewelry and Watches
| Item Description | Estimated Value | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Art, Antiques, and Collectibles
| Item Description | Estimated Value | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Furniture and Household Items
| Item Description | Estimated Value | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Vehicles and Watercraft
| Item Description | VIN/HIN | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | [________________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | [________________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Electronics and Equipment
| Item Description | Estimated Value | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Firearms
| Description (Make/Model/Caliber) | Serial Number | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | [________________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | [________________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Collections (Books, Coins, Stamps, Memorabilia, etc.)
| Collection Description | Estimated Value | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Family Heirlooms and Sentimental Items
| Item Description | Estimated Value | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
Additional Items
| Item Description | Estimated Value | Primary Recipient | Alternate Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | $[________] | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
5. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
6. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Property Not Listed: Any tangible personal property not listed in this Memorandum shall be distributed according to the terms of my Last Will and Testament.
Survival Requirement: Unless otherwise stated above, a recipient must survive me to receive the designated property.
Disputes: If any dispute arises regarding the distribution of property listed herein, my Personal Representative (Executor) shall have the authority to resolve such disputes, and such decision shall be final and binding.
No Monetary or Intangible Gifts: This Memorandum does not and cannot make gifts of money, securities, real property, or other intangible property.
7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE CHANGES
Under 12 Del. Code § 212, this Memorandum may be altered at any time without executing a new will or codicil. To make changes:
- ☐ You may prepare an entirely new memorandum (recommended)
- ☐ You may line through an entry and initial and date the change
- ☐ You must sign any revised memorandum (or it must be in your handwriting)
- ☐ If multiple memoranda exist, the most recent controls to the extent of any conflict
- ☐ Keep this memorandum with your will or in a known, accessible location
8. EXECUTION
I sign this Personal Property Memorandum on the date indicated below.
Declarant:
Signature: [________________________________]
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
Witnesses (not required by statute; recommended):
Witness 1:
Signature: [________________________________]
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
Witness 2:
Signature: [________________________________]
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
9. SOURCES AND REFERENCES
- 12 Del. Code § 212 — Bequest of tangible personal property by separate writing
- 12 Del. Code § 201 — Who may make a will
- UPC § 2-513 — Uniform Probate Code (basis for Delaware statute)
- Delaware Courts: https://courts.delaware.gov
This template is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Delaware attorney before executing this document. Last updated: 2026-04-01.
About This Template
Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.
Important Notice
This template is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Last updated: April 2026