LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
of
[TESTATOR FULL LEGAL NAME]
[// GUIDANCE: Replace all bracketed placeholders with final client information and remove guidance notes prior to execution.]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Declaration and Revocation
II. Definitions
III. Appointment of Personal Representative
IV. Disposition of Estate
V. Guardianship of Minor Children
VI. Administrative & Tax Provisions
VII. Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
VIII. No-Contest & Dispute Resolution
IX. Miscellaneous
X. Execution & Attestation
XI. Self-Proving Affidavit (Optional)
I. DECLARATION AND REVOCATION
1.1 Identification. I, [TESTATOR FULL LEGAL NAME], currently residing at [TESTATOR ADDRESS], being of sound mind and at least eighteen (18) years of age, hereby make, publish, and declare this instrument to be my Last Will and Testament (“Will”), revoking all prior wills and codicils.
1.2 Governing Law. This Will shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Hawai‘i (“Governing Law”). Any probate or administration proceeding shall be brought exclusively in the appropriate Hawai‘i state probate court having jurisdiction over my domicile at death.
[// GUIDANCE: HRS §560:2-502 sets execution formalities; ensure compliance.]
II. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Will, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Children” means my biological or legally adopted children living or en ventre sa mère at my death, namely: [LIST CHILDREN OR “NONE”].
“Estate” means all property, real and personal, tangible or intangible, wherever situated, over which I have testamentary power of disposition at death.
“Personal Representative” means the individual or institution appointed under Article III, including any legally appointed successor or co-representative.
“Residuary Estate” means the balance of my Estate remaining after payment of debts, expenses, taxes, and the specific gifts set forth herein.
“Spouse” means [SPOUSE FULL LEGAL NAME], if he/she survives me; otherwise the term shall be void.
III. APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
3.1 Primary Appointment. I appoint [PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVE NAME] of [ADDRESS] as Personal Representative.
3.2 Successor Appointment. If the primary nominee fails or ceases to serve, I appoint [SUCCESSOR REPRESENTATIVE NAME] of [ADDRESS].
3.3 Bond Waiver. No Personal Representative shall be required to post bond or security, except as the probate court may otherwise order.
3.4 Powers. My Personal Representative shall have, in addition to all powers conferred by Governing Law (including HRS §560:3-715), all powers reasonable or necessary to administer my Estate, including without limitation the powers to sell, lease, exchange, invest, continue businesses, and compromise claims, all without court order.
IV. DISPOSITION OF ESTATE
4.1 Payment of Debts and Expenses. My just debts, funeral expenses, expenses of last illness, estate administration costs, and all estate, inheritance, or similar taxes (collectively, “Expenses”) shall be paid from my Estate as expenses of administration.
4.2 Specific Bequests. I give the following:
a. To [BENEFICIARY NAME], [DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY OR DOLLAR AMOUNT].
b. (Continue list as needed.)
4.3 Tangible Personal Property Memorandum. I may leave a written statement or list disposing of items of tangible personal property pursuant to Governing Law. Such list, if in existence at my death and found by my Personal Representative, shall be incorporated herein by reference.
4.4 Residuary Estate. I devise and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my Estate (“Residuary Estate”) to [PRIMARY RESIDUARY BENEFICIARY NAME], if he/she survives me by thirty (30) days; otherwise to [ALTERNATE RESIDUARY BENEFICIARY NAME] in equal shares per stirpes.
V. GUARDIANSHIP OF MINOR CHILDREN
5.1 Nomination. If at my death any of my Children are under eighteen (18) years of age and a guardian of the person is required, I nominate [PRIMARY GUARDIAN NAME] of [ADDRESS] as guardian; and [SUCCESSOR GUARDIAN NAME] as successor.
5.2 Bond Waiver. I request that no bond be required of any guardian.
VI. ADMINISTRATIVE & TAX PROVISIONS
6.1 Estate Taxes. All estate, inheritance, generation-skipping transfer, and similar taxes imposed by reason of my death, together with any interest or penalties thereon, shall be paid from my Residuary Estate without apportionment.
6.2 Spendthrift Protection. All gifts herein shall be free from the claims of creditors and shall not be subject to anticipation, assignment, or alienation by any beneficiary prior to actual receipt.
6.3 Simultaneous Death. A beneficiary who fails to survive me by thirty (30) days shall be deemed to have predeceased me for all purposes of this Will.
6.4 Fiduciary Compensation. My Personal Representative and any guardian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation and reimbursement of expenses.
VII. INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
7.1 Executor Indemnity. My Estate shall indemnify and hold harmless the Personal Representative, and each successor or co-representative, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, and expenses arising from the proper administration of my Estate, except for acts or omissions constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence.
7.2 Limitation to Estate Assets. No fiduciary or beneficiary shall be personally liable for any obligation of the Estate; recovery for all claims shall be limited solely to the assets of the Estate.
VIII. NO-CONTEST & DISPUTE RESOLUTION
8.1 No-Contest Clause. If any beneficiary (individually or in concert) directly or indirectly contests or seeks to impair the validity of this Will, or any provision herein, any share or interest of such person in my Estate shall be forfeited and shall pass as if such person had predeceased me.
8.2 Forum Selection. Any controversy or claim relating to this Will shall be determined exclusively by the probate court specified in Section 1.2. Arbitration is expressly not available for matters governed by this Will.
8.3 Jury Waiver. To the extent a jury trial might otherwise be permissible in probate proceedings under Governing Law, all parties knowingly waive the right to trial by jury.
8.4 Injunctive Relief. My Personal Representative may seek injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce this Article VIII or to preserve Estate assets during any contest.
IX. MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Severability. If any provision of this Will is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.
9.2 Headings. Headings are for convenience only and shall not affect interpretation.
9.3 Gender and Number. Where appropriate, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa; words importing one gender include all genders.
9.4 Digital Assets. My Personal Representative shall have all powers permitted under Governing Law to access, manage, distribute, or dispose of my digital assets and electronic communications.
X. EXECUTION & ATTESTATION
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Will on this ___ day of _, 20.
__________
[TESTATOR FULL LEGAL NAME], Testator
We, the undersigned witnesses, declare that the Testator, who declared this instrument to be his/her Will, signed or acknowledged this Will in our presence, and we now, at the Testator’s request and in the Testator’s presence and in the presence of each other, subscribe our names as witnesses.
-
__________
Witness Signature
Printed Name: ____
Address: _________ -
__________
Witness Signature
Printed Name: ____
Address: _________
[// GUIDANCE: Hawaii execution formalities require two (2) witnesses who witness signing or acknowledgment by Testator and who sign within a reasonable time. See HRS §560:2-502.]
XI. SELF-PROVING AFFIDAVIT (OPTIONAL)
STATE OF HAWAI‘I
COUNTY OF ______
Before me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared [TESTATOR NAME], [WITNESS 1 NAME], and [WITNESS 2 NAME], who, being duly sworn, declared to me that:
- The Testator executed the foregoing Will as the Testator’s Last Will and Testament.
- The Testator signed (or acknowledged the Testator’s signature on) the Will in the presence of the witnesses.
- Each witness signed the Will in the Testator’s presence and in the presence of the other witness.
- The Testator was eighteen (18) years of age or older, of sound mind, and not under duress, fraud, or undue influence.
- Each witness is at least eighteen (18) years of age and not a person who is disqualified under Governing Law.
Subscribed and sworn before me this ___ day of _, 20.
__________
Notary Public, State of Hawai‘i
My commission expires: ______
[// GUIDANCE: Attach notary acknowledgment block compliant with current Hawai‘i notarial law. A self-proving affidavit is not mandatory but expedites probate by removing the need for witness testimony.]
END OF DOCUMENT