Holographic Will Example: Widow With Adult Children and a Charitable Gift (California)

Last Will and Testament of Margaret Ellen Foster 1. Declaration. I, Margaret Ellen Foster, residing at 745 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, California, holder of California Driver License F2056483, born June 28, 1949, declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I write every material provision and my signature in my own hand as a holographic will under California Probate Code section 6111, which requires no witnesses and no notary. 2. Capacity. I am of sound mind and legal age, acting freely and without undue influence, and I have testamentary capacity under Probate Code section 6100.5. 3. Revocation. I revoke all prior wills and codicils. 4. Family. My husband, Harold Foster, died in 2022. I have three living adult children: Robert Foster, Karen Foster Diaz, and Michael Foster. I intend to provide for each of them so that none is an omitted child under Probate Code section 21620. The property described here is my separate property. 5. Specific legacy. I give my diamond ring and my pearl necklace to my granddaughter, Emily Foster. 6. Charitable gift. I give the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation for its charitable purposes. 7. Residuary estate. I give all the rest of my estate, including my home at 745 Land Park Drive, my Golden 1 Credit Union accounts, and my Fidelity brokerage account, to my three children, Robert, Karen, and Michael, in equal shares. 8. Alternate beneficiary. If any child does not survive me, that child's share shall pass to his or her descendants by right of representation, and if there are none, to my surviving children in equal shares. 9. Personal representative. I appoint my son, Robert Foster, as executor, to serve without bond. If he cannot serve, I appoint my daughter, Karen Foster Diaz. 10. Funeral wishes. I wish to be cremated, with a memorial service at Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento. Signed at Sacramento, California, on [date]. [signature: Margaret Ellen Foster] Note: To be valid in California, both the signature and the material provisions of this will must be in your own handwriting (Cal. Prob. Code sec. 6111). Dating the will is strongly advised.