A concern that older people often bring to estate planning and elder law attorneys is how they can make sure that, at their deaths, the right people receive treasured heirlooms and other items.  These items include jewelry, antiques, firearms, tools, musical instruments, artwork, knick-knacks, and the like.  Lawyers refer to this “stuff” as “tangible personal property.”

It is not necessary to list things in the last will and testament prepared by your estate planning lawyer.  Instead, you can list these things in a separate writing, which your will refers to.  This separate writing can be in your own handwriting or typed.  What's important is that it be signed by you and dated.

This list can be dated before or after the will prepared by your lawyer – it doesn't matter.  You can change it time and time again, without going back to your estate planning lawyer to get your will changed.   The best place to keep this list is together with your will.

Some people, instead of preparing this list, go around their homes and put post-it notes on things, naming the person to receive each item.  This will work out fine as long as your family agrees about who gets what.  However, if they don't agree, there is no way to make sure that these things will go to the right people.  This can cause problems within your family and could even require a judge of the Maine probate court to resolve the issue.   Therefore, it is best to put your wishes in writing.