Write an Ethical Will to Bequeath What Is in Your Heart

4 reasons to create this document now

by: Cari Shane, from: AARP, April 5, 2011

It lays out a moral road map. Writing an ethical will isn't only about reflections on the past. "It gave me a chance to state in a couple of pages what I stand for and what lies ahead for me, what are the things I want to focus on in my life as I get to the end of it," Smith says. "There was a sense of satisfaction, not so much about what I've accomplished, but what I have been able to stand for."

Writing Your Ethical Will

Here are 10 questions to ask yourself as you sit down to write your ethical will:

1. Are there any values that are particularly important to you?

2. Are there any beliefs that are particularly important to you?

3. Is there a spiritual component to your life that is dear to you?

4. Do you have any hopes or dreams for the generations that will follow you?

5. Are there any particular lessons you learned during your life?

6. Do you want to forgive anyone?

7. Do you want anyone’s forgiveness?

8. Do you love particular things about yourself?

9. Is there a particular event that helped shape the person you became?

10. Do you have any regrets?

Examples of ethical wills

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