ARTICLE · 20 JULY 2017

Ethical Wills: A Client's Most Valuable Legacy?

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Few people use ethical wills right now, but I predict they will become more common in the future.

CanadaFamily and Matrimonial

Margaret O'Sullivan

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Few people use ethical wills right now, but I predict they will become more common in the future. An ethical will doesn't deal with the transfer of property on death. Instead, it's generally a letter to family members outlining one's values, beliefs, and inner thoughts, often imparting words of wisdom and documenting family history and tradition.

An ethical will is often kept with one's will or in the care of a family member. It can take on a variety of different forms: a recorded video, slide show, poem, scrapbook, etc. Regardless of form, an ethical will has no legal effect; if one wishes to attach conditions to a gift under a will, those conditions must be included in a legal will.

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