Examples of Holographic Will Templates: 3 Practical Examples You Can Actually Use

Starting With Real-World Style Examples (Not Theory)

Most articles start with a definition. Let’s flip that around. If you’re here, you probably want to see examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples that look like something a real person might actually write.

Below, you’ll see three core handwritten-style examples:

• a simple “everything to one person” will,
• a will for parents with young kids, and
• a will for someone with a house, some debt, and a few specific gifts.

From there, we’ll layer in extra clauses and additional examples of how people handle things like digital assets, pets, and backup beneficiaries.

Example 1: Simple One-Page Holographic Will Template

This first example of a holographic will template is for someone with a straightforward situation: maybe you rent, you don’t have kids, and you want everything to go to one person.

Imagine this is fully handwritten by you on plain paper, dated and signed:

“Last Will and Testament of Jordan Lee
Today is March 3, 2025. I, Jordan Lee, born July 10, 1988, currently living at 245 Oak Street, Phoenix, Arizona, declare that this is my last will and testament. I am of sound mind and I revoke all prior wills and codicils.

I give all of my property of every kind, including any real estate, bank accounts, personal belongings, and any other assets I own at the time of my death, to my sister, Taylor Lee, born May 2, 1990.

If Taylor Lee does not survive me, I give all of my property to my friend, Chris Morgan, born August 15, 1987.

I appoint Taylor Lee as the person in charge of handling my estate (executor). If Taylor cannot serve, I appoint Chris Morgan as executor.

I make this will in my own handwriting and sign it willingly.

/s/ Jordan Lee
March 3, 2025”

Why this works reasonably well in many places:

• It clearly says it’s a last will and testament.
• It identifies the writer and the main beneficiary.
• It has a backup beneficiary.
• It names an executor.
• It’s dated and signed.

This is one of the best examples of a bare-bones holographic will structure: short, direct, and focused on “who gets what” and “who’s in charge.”

Tip: Some states require that the material portions (the gifts and signature) be in your handwriting; others require the whole thing to be handwritten. Always check your local rules.

Authoritative starting points:

• The American Bar Association has a public guide on wills and estates: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/
• Many state courts or bar associations publish basic will information; for example, California courts: https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-wills.htm

Example 2: Holographic Will Template for Parents With Minor Children

Now let’s look at examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples tailored to parents. When kids are involved, the big extra questions are: Who raises them? And who manages money for them?

Here’s a handwritten-style example for a single parent with two children:

“Last Will and Testament of Maria Lopez
Today is June 14, 2025. I, Maria Lopez, born September 9, 1991, living at 1100 Pine Avenue, Denver, Colorado, declare that this is my last will and testament. I revoke any earlier wills. I am of sound mind.

I have two children: Daniel Lopez, born March 1, 2015, and Sofia Lopez, born July 4, 2018.

I give all of my property of every kind, including my house, car, bank accounts, life insurance payable to my estate, and personal belongings, to my children, Daniel and Sofia, in equal shares.

If either child dies before me, that child’s share goes to the other child. If both children die before me, I give my property to my sister, Ana Lopez, born January 5, 1989.

I nominate my sister, Ana Lopez, to be guardian of my minor children. If Ana cannot serve, I nominate my friend, Carla Ruiz, born February 2, 1990, as guardian.

I appoint Ana Lopez to serve as executor of my estate. If she cannot serve, I appoint Carla Ruiz.

I want any money left to my children to be used for their health, education, and support until they reach age 25. The executor may hold and manage the money for them until that time.

I make this will in my own handwriting and sign it willingly.

/s/ Maria Lopez
June 14, 2025”

This second example of a holographic will template shows additional elements:

• Naming minor children clearly
• Naming a guardian
• Naming a backup guardian
• Saying how the children’s money should be used

If you want to expand this, some real examples people often add by hand include:

• A line about not wanting a particular person to be guardian or executor.
• A specific age when kids get direct control of money (21, 25, or 30 are common).
• A note saying the guardian and executor can be paid reasonable fees.

For background on guardianship and child welfare standards, you can look at resources from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: https://www.childwelfare.gov

Example 3: Holographic Will Template With Specific Gifts and Debts

The third of our examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples covers a more realistic, slightly messy life: a house with a mortgage, a car loan, some savings, and a few sentimental items you want to give to specific people.

Here’s how that might look in handwriting:

“Last Will and Testament of Patrick O’Neal
Today is January 20, 2025. I, Patrick O’Neal, born November 11, 1975, living at 900 Lakeview Drive, Austin, Texas, state that this is my last will and testament. I revoke all prior wills. I am of sound mind.

I give my house at 900 Lakeview Drive, Austin, Texas, including all furniture in the house, to my wife, Erin O’Neal, born April 3, 1978, subject to any mortgage or other debt that is still owed on the property.

I give my 2022 Toyota Camry to my son, Liam O’Neal, born May 30, 2002. If he does not survive me, the car goes to my daughter, Megan O’Neal, born August 8, 2005.

I give my grandfather’s watch to my brother, Sean O’Neal, born December 12, 1980.

After paying my just debts, funeral expenses, and taxes, I give the rest and remainder of my property of every kind to my wife, Erin O’Neal. If she does not survive me, I give the rest and remainder in equal shares to my children, Liam and Megan.

I appoint my wife, Erin O’Neal, as executor of my estate, and if she cannot serve, I appoint my brother, Sean O’Neal, as executor. My executor may sell any property if needed to pay debts or expenses.

I make this will in my own handwriting and sign it willingly.

/s/ Patrick O’Neal
January 20, 2025”

This example of a holographic will template shows:

• Specific gifts of real estate, a car, and a sentimental item
• A “residue” or “rest and remainder” clause to catch everything else
• A clear statement that debts and funeral expenses should be paid
• Permission for the executor to sell property

These are the kinds of real examples that show up all the time in handwritten wills, especially when people own both sentimental and financial assets.

Extra Clauses You Can Borrow (Beyond the 3 Practical Examples)

The three core templates above give you a solid backbone, but many people want additional language. Here are a few more examples of clauses that often show up in holographic wills, which you could handwrite into any of the templates.

Digital assets clause

“I give my executor the authority to access, manage, and close my online accounts, including email, social media, and digital financial accounts, and to distribute any digital property according to this will.”

This reflects a growing 2024–2025 trend: more estate planning lawyers now talk about digital assets, from crypto to social media memorialization. Many states have adopted versions of the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), which governs how executors can access digital accounts.

For more on digital assets and estate planning, see resources from the National Conference of State Legislatures: https://www.ncsl.org

Pet care clause

“I leave my dog, Daisy, and any other pets I own at my death to my friend, Alex Kim, born March 3, 1990. I request that Alex care for them as household pets. I give Alex $5,000 from my estate to help with their care.”

Charity gift clause

“I give $10,000 to the American Red Cross, or if it no longer exists, to a similar charitable organization chosen by my executor.”

No-contest style language

“If any beneficiary under this will challenges it in court, that person will forfeit any gift they would otherwise receive, and that gift will pass as if that person had died before me.”

Not every state enforces this kind of clause the same way, but it appears in many examples of lawyer-drafted wills and sometimes in handwritten ones too.

How Real Courts Look at Holographic Wills

Seeing examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples is helpful, but it’s just as important to understand how courts actually treat them.

Key trends and realities as of 2024–2025:

• State-by-state rules: In the U.S., some states fully recognize holographic wills (like Texas, Arizona, California, and others); some recognize them only for active-duty military; some don’t recognize them at all. That means your beautifully handwritten will might be valid in one state and ignored in another.
• Witnesses may still help: Even where witnesses aren’t required for a holographic will, having two people watch you sign and then sign themselves can make the will easier to prove in court.
• Legibility matters: If your handwriting is hard to read, you increase the odds of a fight. Courts can and do get stuck trying to interpret messy text.
• Updates matter: Life changes—marriage, divorce, new baby, buying a home. Courts regularly see outdated holographic wills that don’t line up with current reality, which can lead to disputes.

For an overview of state law differences, the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School is a solid starting point: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/will

Common Mistakes People Make in Holographic Wills

Even the best examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples can’t protect you from certain human habits. Here are frequent problems that show up in real cases:

• No clear “I revoke all prior wills” sentence. That opens the door to arguments over which scrap of paper is your “real” last will.
• Forgetting a residue clause. People list a few items and never say who gets “everything else.” That leftover property may end up distributed under default state law.
• Vague descriptions. Writing “I leave my car to my cousin” when you have three vehicles and four cousins is asking for trouble.
• No backups. If your only beneficiary dies before you and you never named a backup, your will might not control where your property goes.
• Not signing or dating. Courts need to know when you wrote the document and that you personally signed it.

When you study examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples, notice how they try to avoid these traps with clear names, dates, addresses, and backup plans.

Should You Rely Only on a Holographic Will?

Here’s the honest, slightly opinionated take: a handwritten will is better than nothing in many emergencies—but it’s rarely the best long-term plan.

Reasons lawyers still recommend a formal, witnessed will or trust even when you’ve seen great examples of holographic will templates:

• Some states simply won’t honor a holographic will.
• Complex assets (businesses, retirement accounts, multi-state property) are easy to mishandle in a short handwritten note.
• Tax planning, special needs planning, and blended families need more careful drafting.

If you’re dealing with serious health issues and want to get your affairs in order, it’s worth pairing a will with other documents like powers of attorney and advance health care directives. The National Institute on Aging offers plain-language resources on legal and financial planning for older adults: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health

FAQ: Real-World Questions About Holographic Wills

Are these examples of holographic will templates legally valid everywhere?

No. The examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples in this article are educational. Whether a specific handwritten will is valid depends on your state or country. Some places require witnesses even for handwritten wills; some reject them entirely. Always check your local law or talk to an attorney.

Can I just copy one example of a holographic will by hand and be done?

You can physically do that, but it might not reflect your actual life, assets, or family situation. The best examples are the ones tailored to your real circumstances: who you care about, what you own, and where you live. Think of these as models to inspire your own wording, not one-size-fits-all solutions.

Do I need witnesses for a holographic will?

In some states, a holographic will is valid without witnesses as long as the material portions and signature are in your handwriting. In others, witnesses are still required. Even when they’re not required, having two adults watch you sign and then sign themselves can make the will easier to prove in court later.

Can I include an example of funeral instructions in a holographic will?

Yes, many real examples of holographic wills include simple funeral wishes like “I want to be cremated” or “I prefer a simple burial.” Just remember that funeral arrangements often happen very quickly, sometimes before the will is even found. It’s wise to tell your family your wishes directly and not rely only on the will.

What happens if my holographic will conflicts with a beneficiary form on a bank or retirement account?

Generally, the beneficiary form on the account wins. For instance, if your 401(k) lists your ex as the beneficiary and your handwritten will tries to leave that account to someone else, the plan administrator will usually follow the beneficiary form. This is one reason lawyers stress reviewing beneficiary designations regularly.

If you’ve made it this far, you now have multiple examples of holographic will templates: 3 practical examples plus extra clauses to mix and match. The next smart step is simple: sketch a draft by hand using these models, then—if at all possible—run it past a local attorney to make sure your handwritten wishes will actually hold up when it matters most.