Real-world examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations

Starting with real examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations

Most people don’t start with theory. They want to see how others actually write this stuff down. So let’s walk through several realistic examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations, then unpack what’s going on in each.

These are simplified, educational samples — not plug‑and‑play templates. State law varies, and you should always run your own draft past a licensed attorney before signing anything.

Example of a simple self-proving will with a single charitable gift

Imagine Jordan, age 55, divorced, with two adult children and a strong connection to a cancer research nonprofit.

Jordan’s will might say something like:

“I give ten percent (10%) of my residuary estate to the American Cancer Society, a nonprofit organization currently located at [address], to be used for its general charitable purposes.”

The rest of the will leaves the remaining 90% to Jordan’s children in equal shares. The self-proving language appears after the signature block as a separate self-proving affidavit, signed by Jordan and two witnesses in front of a notary.

This is one of the best examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations for people who want to:

• Keep things simple
• Support one major charity
• Make sure most of the estate still passes to family

Most U.S. states have statutory wording for this self-proving affidavit. For instance, the Uniform Probate Code provides model language that many states follow or adapt. You can see a version of this in the Uniform Law Commission’s materials: https://www.uniformlaws.org.

Example of a self-proving will with multiple charities and specific dollar amounts

Now take Priya, age 68, no children, but with several causes she cares about. She wants to leave fixed dollar amounts to nonprofits and let the remainder go to her siblings.

Her will might include:

“I give the following specific bequests:

(a) $25,000 to Doctors Without Borders USA, Inc., a nonprofit organization currently located at [address], for its general purposes;

(b) $15,000 to The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization currently located at [address], for its general purposes;

(c) $10,000 to my local public library, [Library Name], currently located at [address], to support literacy programs.

All such gifts shall be paid from my residuary estate before distribution of the remainder to my residuary beneficiaries.”

The self-proving portion appears at the end, with Priya and two witnesses signing in front of a notary. This is another clear example of a self-proving will with charitable donations, where the testator uses fixed dollar gifts and then leaves the rest to individuals.

This structure works well when:

• Your estate is large enough to support fixed gifts
• You have multiple charities to support
• You want to guarantee a minimum amount to each organization

Mixed family and charity: examples include conditional charitable donations

Sometimes people want to prioritize family but still support charity if there’s “extra” left. This leads to conditional gifts.

Consider Maria, age 72, widowed, with one son who has a stable career. Maria wants her son to be comfortable but also wants to support a local food bank if her estate exceeds a certain amount.

Her will might say:

“If the net value of my residuary estate exceeds \(750,000 as finally determined for federal estate tax purposes, then I give ten percent (10%) of my residuary estate to [Food Bank Name], a nonprofit organization currently located at [address]. If the value of my residuary estate does not exceed \)750,000, this gift shall lapse and my residuary estate shall pass entirely to my son, [Name].”

This is one of the more nuanced examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations because the charity only receives a share if a financial threshold is met. The self-proving affidavit still functions the same way: it authenticates the will so the witnesses don’t need to appear in probate court.

People use this pattern when they:

• Want to protect a spouse or child first
• Are worried about market fluctuations affecting their estate
• Still hope to leave a meaningful charitable legacy if assets allow

Example of a self-proving will leaving a percentage to charity and family

Percentages can be more flexible than fixed dollar amounts, especially when asset values change over time.

Take Daniel and Alexis, a married couple in their 40s with two kids. Each of them signs a separate will (no such thing as a truly “joint” will in many states) with similar terms:

“I give twenty percent (20%) of my residuary estate to Habitat for Humanity International, Inc., a nonprofit organization currently located at [address], for its general charitable purposes, and the remaining eighty percent (80%) of my residuary estate to my spouse, if living, otherwise in equal shares to my then-living children.”

This kind of clause shows up often in the best examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations because it naturally adjusts to the size of the estate. The self-proving affidavit is attached to each spouse’s will, signed and notarized on the same day.

Why percentages work well:

• They scale up or down with investment performance
• They reduce the risk of unintentionally disinheriting family
• They are easy for executors and courts to interpret

Example of a self-proving will with a charitable scholarship fund

Charitable gifts don’t have to go straight to a large national nonprofit. Some people prefer a targeted, local impact.

Consider Amina, a retired teacher who wants part of her estate to fund a scholarship for first-generation college students at her local community college.

Her will might say:

“I give the sum of $100,000 to [Community College Name] Foundation, a nonprofit organization currently located at [address], to establish the ‘Amina Khan First-Generation Student Scholarship Fund.’ It is my wish, though not a binding restriction, that scholarships from this fund be awarded to students who are the first in their family to attend college and who demonstrate financial need.”

The rest of the will leaves the remainder to Amina’s nieces and nephews. The document ends with a self-proving affidavit that follows her state’s statutory form.

This is an example of a self-proving will with charitable donations that also creates a named fund. Many colleges and universities have guidance for this kind of gift. For instance, the University of California and other public systems publish planned giving information on their .edu sites explaining how to structure scholarship bequests.

Example of a self-proving will using a donor-advised fund

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) have exploded in popularity in the last decade. Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and others report billions of dollars flowing through these accounts each year. A DAF lets you name the fund as the beneficiary and then recommend grants to specific charities over time.

Say Noah and Lily have already opened a donor-advised fund during their lifetimes. Their wills might say:

“I give fifteen percent (15%) of my residuary estate to Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, a charitable organization currently located at [address], to be added to the [Noah and Lily Green Family Fund], to be used for charitable purposes in accordance with the policies of said organization.”

By pointing their self-proving wills to the DAF, they avoid rewriting their wills every time they change their preferred charities. Instead, they update the DAF’s internal recommendations.

This is one of the more flexible examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations, especially for people who:

• Support many charities over time
• Want heirs to participate in grantmaking after their deaths
• Prefer administrative simplicity

For general background on donor-advised funds and charitable giving trends, the IRS provides guidance on charitable organizations and deductibility at https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits.

Example of a self-proving will with a charity as backup (contingent) beneficiary

Sometimes charity is the “Plan B.”

Consider an unmarried person, Leo, who wants everything to go to his sister if she survives him, but wants his favorite animal rescue organization to receive his estate if she dies first.

His will might say:

“I give all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to my sister, [Name], if she survives me. If my sister does not survive me, then I give all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to [Animal Rescue Name], a nonprofit organization currently located at [address], for its general charitable purposes.”

Again, the will is executed with two witnesses and a notary using the state’s self-proving affidavit form. This is a straightforward example of a self-proving will with charitable donations where the charity is a contingent beneficiary.

People often structure things this way when:

• They have one primary individual beneficiary
• They want a clear backup plan
• They want to avoid distant relatives inheriting by default under intestacy laws

Legal nuts and bolts: what makes these “self-proving”?

Across all these examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations, the charitable language changes, but the self-proving mechanics stay fairly consistent.

Typical requirements in many U.S. states include:

• The will is in writing
• The testator signs the will
• Two witnesses watch the testator sign (or acknowledge the signature)
• The witnesses sign in the testator’s presence
• A self-proving affidavit is attached, where the testator and witnesses swear before a notary that the will was properly executed

States like Texas, Florida, and Arizona even include statutory self-proving language in their probate codes. The American Bar Association and many state bar associations publish plain-language explanations of these rules. For example, the ABA’s public resources on estate planning (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/) outline general best practices.

Why this matters for charitable gifts:

• A self-proving will is easier for a court to admit to probate
• Charities are less likely to face delays or challenges
• Executors have clearer authority to make distributions

If a will is not self-proving, a court may need live testimony or affidavits from witnesses years later, which can be expensive or impossible if people have moved or died.

Tax and policy context: why charitable bequests are growing

Charitable bequests through wills and trusts are a major part of nonprofit funding. According to annual reports from organizations like Giving USA and large community foundations, bequests consistently represent a significant share of total charitable giving.

Several trends are driving more people to look for examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations:

• Aging populations in the U.S., U.K., and other countries
• Higher lifetime wealth held by retirees
• Increased awareness of planned giving programs at hospitals, universities, and religious organizations

From a U.S. tax perspective, charitable bequests can reduce the size of a taxable estate for federal estate tax purposes, although most estates fall below the federal exemption. The IRS explains the deductibility of charitable bequests in Publication 526 and related guidance at https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations.

Even when no estate tax is due, many people simply want to:

• Express values and beliefs through giving
• Support institutions that supported them (schools, hospitals, faith communities)
• Leave a public or private legacy (named funds, scholarships, endowments)

Practical drafting tips inspired by the best examples

Looking across these real-world style examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations, some patterns emerge that are worth copying — with your lawyer’s help.

Be precise about the charity. Use the full legal name and location. Large organizations often have multiple affiliates; your will should make it obvious which one you mean.

Say how the gift should be used, but don’t over-restrict. Many examples include language like “for its general charitable purposes” or “it is my wish, though not a binding restriction.” Overly narrow restrictions can backfire if programs change.

Favor percentages when your estate value is uncertain. Percentages adjust automatically and avoid the risk that fixed dollar gifts eat up the entire estate.

Coordinate with beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by beneficiary form, not by will. If you want part of those to go to charity, update the forms directly.

Follow your state’s exact self-proving format. Even small deviations can cause problems. Many state court systems and law libraries post sample forms. For example, state court websites with .gov domains often publish probate forms and instructions for self-proving affidavits.

FAQs about self-proving wills and charitable donations

Q: Can you give a simple example of a self-proving will that leaves money to charity and family?
A: Yes. One common pattern is a will that gives a percentage to charity and the rest to family, such as: “I give 20% of my residuary estate to [Charity Name] for its general charitable purposes and 80% to my children in equal shares,” followed by a self-proving affidavit signed before a notary with two witnesses. This is one of the best examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations because it balances family support with philanthropy.

Q: Do I need a lawyer to create a self-proving will with charitable donations?
A: Legally, many states allow handwritten or DIY wills, but the risk of mistakes is high, especially when you’re mixing charitable bequests, tax considerations, and self-proving formalities. A local estate planning attorney can tailor the language to your state law and make sure the self-proving affidavit is executed correctly.

Q: Can I change the charities in my will later without rewriting everything?
A: You can, but you must do it formally. That usually means signing a new will or a codicil (an amendment) with the same witnessing and self-proving process. If you want maximum flexibility, look at examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations that point to a donor-advised fund or private foundation, where you can update grant recommendations outside the will.

Q: Are charitable gifts in a will only for wealthy people?
A: Not at all. Many real examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations involve modest estates leaving a few thousand dollars or a small percentage to a local church, animal shelter, or school. The legal structure is the same whether the gift is \(2,000 or \)2 million.

Q: How do I know if a charity is legitimate before I name it in my will?
A: In the U.S., you can use tools like the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/search-for-tax-exempt-organizations to confirm tax status. Independent evaluators like Charity Navigator (https://www.charitynavigator.org) also provide financial and governance information. Checking these before finalizing your will helps ensure your gift goes where you intend.

The bottom line: looking at real-world style examples of self-proving wills with charitable donations is a smart way to sharpen your own plans. Once you have a rough idea of how you want to split things between people and causes, sit down with a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction and translate that vision into a legally enforceable, self-proving document.