SAMPLE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT CLAUSES - Sample succession planning clauses

Aug 31, 2026

Sample last will and testament clauses provided to help Planning Licensees support succession planning in the event of death. The document includes drafting frameworks for a General Will and a Legal Practice Will, addressing key sections such as revocation of prior wills and codicils, treatment of life insurance proceeds, appointment and replacement of estate trustees/executors, executor succession rules for client and related estates, and compensation mechanics for administering a legal practice estate. Placeholders require tailoring to personal circumstances.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatDOCX

Pages5

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

General Will

Legal Practice Will

Revocation

Life Insurance

Executors of Lawyer’s Estate

Executors of Clients’ and Other Estates

Compensation

Definitions

SAMPLE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT CLAUSES Planning Licensees may utilize the following sample last will and testament clauses to assist with succession planning in the event of their death. These sample clauses should be modified to suit the personal circumstances of the Planning Licensee and their practice. When using this sample document, Planning Licensees should consult the Issues to consider when preparing a will that forms part of the Law Society’s HYPERLINK "https://lso.ca/lawyers/practice-supports-and-resources/topics/opening,-operating-or-closing-a-practice/succession-planning" Succession planning resource. Introduction General Will I, [name of Planning Licensee], of [City or town], Ontario, hereby declare that this is my Last Will and Testament with respect to my General Estate (as hereinafter defined) and shall be referred to as “my General Will”. Legal Practice Will I, [insert name of Planning Licensee], of [City or town], Ontario, hereby declare that this is my Last Will and Testament with respect to my Legal Practice Estate (as hereinafter defined) and shall be referred to as “my Legal Practice Will”. Revocation General Will I hereby revoke all Wills and Codicils made by me prior to [insert date] regarding those of my assets that form part of my General Estate. For greater certainty, nothing in this my General Will shall revoke, or override, any Will made by me that purports to dispose of my Legal Practice Estate (as hereinafter defined), which other Will shall be referred to as “my Legal Practice Will”. Legal Practice Will I hereby revoke all Wills and Codicils made by me prior to [insert date] regarding those of my assets that form part of my Legal Practice Estate. For greater certainty, nothing in this my Legal Practice Will shall revoke, or override, any Will made by me that purports to dispose of my General Estate (as hereinafter defined), which other Will shall be referred to as “my General Will”. Life Insurance Legal Practice Will I hereby revoke all previous bequests, declarations or agreements made by me in connection with the payment of the insurance policy on my life with [insert name of insurance company], policy number [insert number], and I declare that the proceeds of the said policy shall be payable to [insert name of Successor] as Special Trustee as a separate trust upon the same terms and conditions contained in paragraph [insert the paragraph number of the dispositive provisions of the Legal Practice Will] of my Legal Practice Will. This declaration shall be a declaration within the meaning of the Insurance Act (Ontario). Executors of Lawyer’s Estate General Will I appoint [insert name] to be the sole Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my General Will. In the event that [insert name] predeceases me or is or becomes at any time unable or unwilling to act or to continue to act as the Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my General Will, then I appoint [insert name] to be the sole Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my General Will in the place and stead of [insert name]. The person or persons from time to time acting as the Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my General Will is or are referred to herein as “my Trustee”. Legal Practice Will I appoint [insert name of first Successor] to be the sole Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my Legal Practice Will. In the event that [insert name of first Successor] predeceases me, or is or becomes at any time unable or unwilling to act or to continue to act as the Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my Legal Practice Will, then I appoint [insert name of alternate Successor] to be the sole Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my Legal Practice Will in the place and stead of [insert first Successor]. The person or persons from time to time acting as the Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my Legal Practice Will is or are referred to herein as “my Trustee”. Executors of Clients’ and Other

FAQs

What are the two will frameworks included in the sample?

The sample provides clauses for a General Will and a Legal Practice Will, each with its own scope and terminology.

How does the sample handle revocation of prior wills and codicils?

It revokes prior wills and codicils made before a specified date that relate to assets within each respective estate, while ensuring the other will is not overridden.

How are estate trustees/executors appointed and replaced in the sample?

The General Will and Legal Practice Will name an estate trustee/executor and include substitution language if the named person dies or becomes unable or unwilling to act.

Aug 31, 2026

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