A Story Is Not a Will

Some things matter because of where they have been. A watch that was on a wrist for forty years. A pie plate that has fed four generations. On GoodNest you can tell that story in a letter, add a picture, and seal it for a grandchild to open when they are grown.

A story like that is worth writing. It also helps to know what it can and can’t do.

What a letter can do

A letter can say what the thing is, where it came from, and why you kept it. It can say what you hope for it. It will be there, in your own words, when your grandchild is grown.

Stories like these are easy to lose. Writing one down takes a few minutes.

What a letter can’t do

A letter on GoodNest does not give anyone anything. It does not change who owns the item, today or later. It is not a will, and it is not a promise. You can change your mind, and you can ask us to delete it.

Things change, too. A watch gets lost. A ring is sold to pay for care. A will says something different. If that happens, the story is still true, and it is still theirs to read.

Tell the family

A sealed letter stays sealed for years. If nobody else knows what you hoped for, nobody can act on it.

So say it out loud. Tell your grandchild’s mom or dad about it, and anyone else who might care. It is a kinder conversation now than a surprise later.

What a will is

A will is a signed paper that says who gets what you own after you die. Each state has its own rules for making one, such as signing it in front of witnesses. A letter, a text message or a note on a website does not follow those rules.

In many states, a will can also point to a separate signed list of belongings and who should get each one. People use it for things like jewelry, tools and furniture, and it can usually be changed later without redoing the whole will. The rules differ from state to state, and some states don’t allow it, so ask before you count on one.

If there is no will, state law decides who gets what.

How people make one

Talk to a lawyer near you. This is the best choice if you own a home, have a blended family, or simply want to be sure. Your state bar association can point you to a certified lawyer referral service, and some charge a small fee for a first conversation. Two national groups also list their members by area: the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. It costs nothing to look. Each lawyer sets their own fee.

Make a simple will online for free. FreeWill is one free option. It is free because nonprofits pay for it, and it will ask whether you’d like to include a charity in your will. You can say no. FreeWill is not a law firm.

Use a paid online service. These cost money, and some add a lawyer’s help for an extra fee. We don’t name one in this article. If GoodNest links to one, the link is in the list below, and it is marked as a paid link.

GoodNest is not paid by any lawyer, by either lawyer group, or by FreeWill.

Keep the story, grow the nest

Not everything has to be kept to be remembered. If the china is going to a sale, take its picture and tell its story first. Then, if you like, put what it fetched toward your grandchild’s nest. That gift goes straight to the parents. GoodNest never holds it.

Sources

• South Dakota Codified Laws § 29A-2-513, one state’s version of the law on a separate list of belongings.
• FreeWill, on how it is paid for and that it is not a law firm.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws about wills and gifts vary by state and country. GoodNest is not a law firm, does not prepare legal documents, and does not recommend any lawyer. For your own situation, talk to an estate planning attorney licensed in your state.