Letter of Wishes Worksheet

Who this is for

Rough notes before the letter itself. The worksheet gathers the things you want family or executors to understand: who should have which items, why you chose as you did, guidance for guardians or trustees, care of pets and anything you want said in your own words.

Anyone who has made a will, or is about to, and wants to leave a personal note alongside it, and people helping a parent or partner put their thoughts in order.

What this helps you track

• Items or requests, and who each one is meant for
• The reasons behind choices that might otherwise puzzle the family
• Guidance you want guardians or trustees to have
• Who should look after pets and how
• Personal messages you want passed on

How to use it

1. Write your name, today's date and where the finished letter will be kept.
2. List items and requests in the first table, one per line, with who each is for and any note that explains it.
3. Use the second table for guidance and messages, choosing a topic for each line so related points stay together.
4. Work through the checklist once the notes are complete, then write the letter itself from this sheet.
5. Keep the worksheet with your own papers or fill it in online, where it saves in your own browser, and redo it when circumstances change.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Is a letter of wishes the same as a will?

No. It usually sits alongside a will as guidance for the people carrying it out. How much weight it carries varies from place to place, so check the rules where you are, or ask whoever drew up your will.

Why write reasons down at all?

A gift that looks odd on paper often makes sense once the reason is known. A short line explaining why a particular person gets a particular item can spare the family a lot of guessing later.

Should the finished letter be kept with the will?

Many people keep it with their will papers or give a copy to their executor. Whatever you choose, write the location at the top of this sheet and tell at least one person where to look.

What if I change my mind later?

Start a fresh worksheet, date it, and rewrite the letter from it. Destroy or clearly mark the older version so nobody works from notes you no longer mean.