Letter of Wishes

A Companion to Your Will, Not a Replacement

A letter of wishes is an informal document you write to sit alongside your will. Your will says what happens to your estate. The letter explains why, and gives your executors and any trustees the context they need to carry out your intentions in the spirit you meant them.

Why People Write One

A will is a formal document. Once it takes effect it usually becomes a matter of public record in many jurisdictions, and it is not the place for personal explanation. A letter of wishes gives you somewhere to put the reasoning, the family context, and the practical detail that would otherwise be lost.

The Practical Differences

• Formality. Your will has to be signed and witnessed to a set standard. A letter of wishes has no such formalities, so it is quick to write and quick to replace.
• Privacy. A letter of wishes is normally kept private between you, your executors and your trustees, whereas a will may become publicly readable once it takes effect.
• Effect. A will disposes of your estate. A letter explains and guides; it cannot give away anything your will has not already dealt with.
• Updating. Changing your will means making a formal amendment or a new will. Replacing a letter of wishes is as simple as writing a new one and dating it.

Common Subjects

There is no fixed format. People commonly cover:

• The reasoning behind an unequal division, so it is not read as an oversight
• Guidance for trustees on when and how you would like a beneficiary to receive money, for example towards education or a first home
• Who you would like to care for pets, and what their routine is
• Sentimental items and who you had in mind for them, where your will leaves that open
• Practical detail your executors will need, such as who holds a key, which adviser you worked with, or where a document is stored
• A personal message to the people you have named

Make Sure It Can Be Found

A letter nobody finds achieves nothing. Store it where your executors will look, tell them it exists, and keep it with, or clearly referenced alongside, your will. Your Document Vault is one place to keep it so the people you have authorised can reach it when they need to.

Date Every Version

Because a letter of wishes is informal, several versions can easily end up in circulation. Date each one, and destroy or clearly supersede the version it replaces, so there is no question about which one reflects your current thinking.

Revisit It When Your Will Changes

Any time you revise your will, read the letter again. A letter written for an earlier version of your will can end up describing gifts or trustees that no longer exist.

Do I need a letter of wishes?

No. It is entirely optional. It tends to be most useful where your will leaves discretion to trustees, where you have divided your estate unequally, or where practical detail would help your executors.

Does it need to be witnessed?

Generally not, because it is not part of your will and is not intended to have legal effect of its own. Signing and dating it is still worth doing so its authorship and its date are clear.

Can I change it without changing my will?

Yes. That flexibility is the main reason to use one. Write a new letter, date it, and make sure the old version is withdrawn.

Will my beneficiaries be able to read it?

Usually it is addressed to your executors and trustees rather than to your beneficiaries, and whether it is shared more widely is often left to their judgement. Write it on the assumption that it may one day be read by the people it discusses.