From a wedding ring to a record collection, you can leave specific items to the people or charities you choose. Whether something is valuable, sentimental, or both, you can include it in your Will.
On EveryWill, you'll do this in the Estate & Gifts step. Separate from your residuary estate, there's a place to add specific gifts of money, property, or personal items, and choose who each one goes to.
A specific gift is generally set aside before the residuary estate is divided. People leave all sorts of things this way — jewelry, a vehicle, tools, artwork, a collection, or a particular sum of money.
Keep in mind that some assets may not pass through a Will at all. Certain assets — such as retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and Pay-on-Death or Transfer-on-Death accounts — generally pass by beneficiary designation to the person named, regardless of what a Will says. See What are beneficiary designations? for more.
If you need personalized legal advice, you may wish to consult an estate planning attorney in your state.
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EveryWill is not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. This article is provided for educational purposes only; it is not, and should not be taken as, legal, tax, or financial advice. Laws vary by state and change over time, and this article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney licensed in your state who knows your circumstances. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with EveryWill. Use of EveryWill’s platform and services is subject to its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.