Practical examples of joint will examples for spouses

Real-life style examples of joint will examples for spouses

Let’s skip the theory and jump straight into how this actually looks in real life. Below are several story-based examples of joint will examples for spouses, written in plain English so you can picture what might fit your own situation.

Example of a joint will for young parents with a mortgage

Imagine Alex and Jordan, both in their mid-30s, with two kids under 10, a house with a mortgage, some savings, and life insurance.

In their joint will, they might say something like:

“We leave all our property, including our home, cars, bank accounts, and personal belongings, to the surviving spouse. After we have both passed, we leave everything in equal shares to our children, to be held in trust until they each reach age 25.”

Key features in this example of a joint will:

• The first spouse to die leaves everything to the survivor.
• The surviving spouse is locked into the plan that, when they die, the remainder goes to the kids in equal shares.
• A simple trust for minor children is included so the kids don’t inherit large sums at 18.

Why some lawyers raise eyebrows at this: if Alex dies and Jordan later remarries, this joint will might stop Jordan from changing the plan to provide for a new spouse or stepchildren. That rigidity is one reason many modern attorneys recommend separate wills or a revocable living trust instead of a joint will.

Example of a joint will for a retired couple with adult children

Now picture Maria and Samuel, both retired, house fully paid off, modest investments, and three adult children.

Their joint will might say:

“The survivor of us shall receive all of our property. Upon the death of the survivor, our estate shall be divided into three equal shares for our children. If any child predeceases us, that child’s share shall pass to their own children in equal shares.”

This is one of the best examples of a straightforward, traditional joint will:

• Surviving spouse gets everything.
• After both spouses die, the estate is divided equally among children.
• Grandchildren inherit their parent’s share if that parent has already passed.

This kind of joint will can work when:

• The couple has a stable, long-term marriage.
• Their wishes are very aligned.
• They don’t expect major changes, like future marriages or additional children.

Still, many estate-planning attorneys in 2024–2025 caution that separate, coordinated wills or a trust give more flexibility if family or financial circumstances shift. The American Bar Association’s public resources on estate planning discuss the importance of flexibility as laws and family needs change over time: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/estate_planning/

Blended family example of joint will examples for spouses

Next, let’s talk about a trickier situation: blended families.

Chris and Dana are married. Chris has two kids from a prior marriage; Dana has one child. They own a home together and each has retirement accounts.

In their joint will, they might try something like:

“The survivor of us shall have the right to use and enjoy all property during their lifetime. Upon the death of the survivor, our estate shall be divided into three equal shares among our three children by blood or adoption.”

On paper, this looks fair. But here’s why this is one of the more risky examples of joint will examples for spouses:

• If Chris dies first, Dana controls everything for the rest of her life.
• Chris’s children have to wait until Dana dies before they see anything.
• If Dana needs long-term care or runs into debt, there may be little left for any of the kids.

Many attorneys would instead suggest separate wills and possibly a trust that protects at least part of Chris’s assets for his children. For blended families, a joint will often creates tension and unintended consequences.

The National Institute on Aging has helpful general guidance on planning ahead for end-of-life and incapacity decisions, which often intersect with estate planning: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning

Example of a joint will for a couple with a family business

Consider Priya and Ethan, who own a small bakery together. They have one adult child who helps run the business and one adult child who lives out of state and has no interest in it.

Their joint will might say:

“We leave all our interest in our bakery business to our child, Taylor, who is actively involved in the business. We leave our remaining assets, including our home and investment accounts, in equal shares to our two children.”

This is one of the more tailored examples of joint will examples for spouses:

• The business goes to the child who actually works in it, so operations can continue smoothly.
• Other assets are split equally, so the sibling not in the business still gets a fair inheritance.

The catch is that business values change. If the bakery becomes far more valuable than expected, the child who receives the business might end up with much more than the other. With a joint will, it can be harder for the surviving spouse to adjust the plan later without running into conflicts over whether they’re allowed to.

Example of a joint will for spouses without children

Now imagine Taylor and Morgan, married, no kids, but very close to their nieces and nephews and active in a local charity.

Their joint will might say:

“We leave all our property to the survivor of us. After the death of the survivor, we leave 50% of our estate to [Charity Name], and the remaining 50% to be divided equally among our nieces and nephews who survive the survivor of us.”

This example of a joint will:

• Takes care of the surviving spouse first.
• Supports a charity that matters to them.
• Spreads the rest among extended family.

This can work reasonably well if they don’t expect major changes in their circle of loved ones. But if they later become guardians of a relative’s child, or decide to adopt, a joint will that’s hard to change may no longer fit their new reality.

If you’re considering charitable gifts, the IRS has a useful overview of charitable contributions and the tax side of things: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations

Example of a joint will with specific sentimental items

Sometimes the money isn’t the hard part—it’s the sentimental stuff.

Jordan and Lee have three children and a lot of heirlooms: a grandfather’s watch, a wedding ring, a classic car, family artwork.

Their joint will might say:

“We leave all household items, furniture, jewelry, and personal effects to the survivor of us. After the death of the survivor, we leave:

• Our 1967 Mustang to our son, Marcus.

• Our wedding rings and family jewelry to our daughter, Nina.

• All original family artwork to our daughter, Rosa.

Our remaining property is to be divided equally among our three children.”

This is one of the best examples of using a joint will to prevent fights over sentimental items, because it spells out who gets what. But again, if the surviving spouse later wants to change these specific gifts—for example, if one child becomes estranged—a joint will might tie their hands.

How these examples of joint will examples for spouses compare to separate wills

After seeing these real examples, the natural question is: why not just use separate wills that say the same thing?

Here’s the difference in plain language:

• Joint will: One document, signed by both spouses, usually meant to lock in a shared plan. Often interpreted as a binding contract that can be very hard—or sometimes impossible—to change after one spouse dies.
• Separate wills: Two documents, one for each spouse. They can mirror each other, but each person can update their own will while they’re alive and competent.

Most modern estate planners in the U.S. now prefer separate wills or a revocable living trust over joint wills. Joint wills are seen more as an older style. Laws vary by state, but courts in some places are very strict about honoring the original joint will, even if the surviving spouse’s circumstances change dramatically.

If you want to read more about will basics and alternatives, the legal information from Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute is a solid, plain-English source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/will

When these examples of joint will examples for spouses might make sense

Even though they’re less popular now, there are still situations where a joint will might appeal to people:

• A long-married couple with very clear, unchanging wishes.
• Parents who are determined that everything eventually go to their children from the current marriage, and they worry the survivor might later be pressured to change the plan.
• Couples who strongly value the idea of a single, shared document.

Some of the real examples above, like Maria and Samuel’s simple plan for adult children, fit that mold. But you’ll notice a pattern: as soon as you add blended families, businesses, or fast-changing finances, joint wills start to feel like a tight shoe on a growing foot.

In 2024–2025, estate planners are also thinking more about:

• Longer lifespans and higher chances that one spouse may outlive the other by decades.
• Rising costs of long-term care, which can eat into inheritances.
• More common second marriages and blended families.

All of that makes flexibility more valuable, which is why many attorneys steer couples toward separate wills or trusts that can be updated as life evolves.

Pros and cons illustrated by these examples

Looking back at the examples of joint will examples for spouses we’ve walked through, a few patterns jump out.

Upsides you can see in the stories:

• Simplicity: One document, one shared plan.
• Clarity for kids: Especially in the examples with adult children, everyone knows what the final distribution should look like.
• Protection against last-minute changes: A joint will can prevent a surviving spouse from changing everything under pressure from a new partner or one persuasive child.

Downsides that show up in those same examples:

• Inflexibility: The young parents’ example shows how hard it can be if the survivor remarries or has more kids.
• Delays for stepchildren: In the blended family example, some kids wait a long time and might end up with nothing if the survivor’s needs are high.
• Hard to fix unfairness later: In the business example, if values change, the survivor may not be able to rebalance things.

That’s why, even when people like the idea of a joint will, many attorneys will suggest:

• Coordinated separate wills that say almost the same thing, or
• A revocable living trust that both spouses create and can amend while they are alive.

FAQs about joint wills for spouses

Are there real examples of joint will examples for spouses that work well long-term?

Yes. The retired couple with adult children and no blended-family issues is a classic example that can work reasonably well. Their lives are relatively stable, their wishes are aligned, and they don’t expect major changes. But even in those cases, many lawyers still prefer separate but coordinated wills for flexibility.

Can the surviving spouse change a joint will after one spouse dies?

Often, no—or only in very limited ways. In many states, a joint will is treated as a contract. Once one spouse dies, courts may rule that the surviving spouse is bound to the original agreement, especially when the will clearly looks like a mutual, locked-in plan. The only way to know how this works in your state is to talk with a local attorney who practices estate planning.

Is there an example of a joint will that protects children from a first marriage?

The blended family example earlier—where Chris and Dana leave everything to the survivor for life, then to all three children—shows the intent to protect everyone, but it still has risks. If protecting children from a first marriage is a priority, attorneys often recommend a trust that guarantees those children receive at least part of the estate, instead of relying on a joint will alone.

Do most lawyers still recommend joint wills in 2024–2025?

Not usually. While laws vary, the general trend in modern estate planning is away from joint wills and toward separate wills or trusts. The main reason is the need for flexibility as people live longer and families become more complex.

Where can I see more examples of language used in wills?

Public legal education sites, state bar association pages, and law school resources sometimes publish sample clauses or explanations of common will terms. The Legal Information Institute at Cornell (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/will) is a good starting point, and many state courts or bar associations also publish plain-language guides.

Final thoughts before you write anything down

Seeing real-world style examples of joint will examples for spouses can be incredibly helpful, but think of them as teaching tools, not templates to copy and paste. Every couple’s situation is different: kids, debts, health, property, citizenship, even where you live all affect what makes sense.

If you’re leaning toward a joint will because it feels simple, consider this: you can often get the same simplicity—and much more flexibility—with two separate wills that coordinate with each other, or with a shared trust. A short conversation with a qualified estate-planning attorney in your state can save your family a lot of confusion and conflict later.

Use these examples as a way to clarify what you and your spouse actually want. Then bring those ideas to a professional who can turn them into a legally sound plan that fits your real life, not just a hypothetical couple on a page.