Ethical Wills

An ethical will is a document wholly unlike a legal end-of-life Will. An ethical will is a personal accounting of one’s values, beliefs or experiences, among many other things. Ethical wills are an increasingly popular way for those with terminal illnesses to share thoughts and experiences or for those simply wanting to hand down beliefs and personal ethics to loved ones.

An Ancient Practice

The practice of ethical wills is not a new one. While it seems to be an increasingly popular practice at this intensely unethical moment in time, the art of ethical wills dates back to the ancient Hebrews, whose Wills contained diatribes of personal ethics and morals intended to be handed down through the generations.

Do I Need An Ethical Will?

Ethical wills are not a legal document and your personal assets will not be affected if you do not have one. However, ethical wills are becoming more and more popular with people who are interested in sharing their values, insights, business strategies, tricks for playing the horses, or personal history with friends and loved ones. There is no distribution of property in an ethical will, just a sharing of one’s self.

How To Make An Ethical Will

Creating your own ethical will is easy, essentially. The concept is easy, at least. However, writing an ethical will means taking a reality check into your mortality. This is not a typical thought process in which most people wish to engage. While many psychologists recommend the practice for those suffering terminal illnesses, many others are disinclined to consider death.

Should you wish to write a personal ethical will, you can design it to be anything you wish. All you need to do is jot some ideas on paper. Who do you want to direct the document to? What are you most interested in sharing? Will it be humorous or emotional? Will it be political or religious? Psychologists generally agree that taking the time to write an ethical will can add greatly to your appreciation for your life and the gifts you have to share.

Practical Purposes

An increasing number of financial planners are also recommending the inclusion of ethical wills as a practical document that can serve a supporting role in a well rounded estate plan.

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