When you’re organizing your end-of-life affairs, preparing a will is likely high on your list of priorities. What you may not realize is that there are different kinds of wills. An ethical will isn’t a legal document. It’s a way for you to convey thoughts, life lessons learned, the intentions behind your will and wishes for your loved ones.
An ethical will can be written, but it can also be delivered via audio or video. There’s not a right or wrong approach; it depends on how you’re most comfortable communicating.
Ethical wills can serve many different purposes. You may use it to convey your love and appreciation to your loved ones or to mend fences you weren’t able to while alive. Your ethical will can also be a way to share your values, what you’ve learned in life, etc.
Drafting an ethical will can be an emotional process, so organizing what you’d like to say ahead of time can help keep you focused. Make notes about the points you’d like to share.
Even if you ultimately plan to record your ethical will, writing out what you plan to say can be a good idea.
Preparing an ethical will is no small undertaking, and chances are, over time, you’ll want to change or add to your original draft.