How do I create a simple will? Is there a form for that?

We're often asked by patrons if we can provide them with a form or template for a "simple will." There is no official form for a simple will, but the Texas Supreme Court is developing several standard will forms.

You may be able to adapt an online template like Texas Law Help's will form for a single person with children. You could also find a sample will in one of our library's resources.

Texas Supreme Court Forms

A 2015 Texas law required the Texas Supreme Court to develop several types of simple will forms: 

• Will Form for a Person Who is Single, Widowed, or Divorced and Who Has Children
• Will Form for a Married Person Who Has Children
• Will Form for a Person Who is Single, Widowed, or Divorced and Does Not Have Children
• Will Form for a Married Person Who Does Not Have Children

The court finalized these forms in 2023.

Library Resources

The library has a number of helpful e-books with sample forms available in our library's collection. These resources can help you create your own will from scratch. 

Legal publishers create drafting guides for wills that can be adapted to an individual’s needs. Everyone's situation is different, so you may need to look through the options available in our digital collection in order to find a drafting guide for a will that is suitable for you and your needs. To view any of our digital resources, you’ll first have to sign up for a free library account. If you have questions about accessing these resources or need more help with your research, please feel free to contact us directly. 

Nolo's Quick & Legal Will Book

Written with the general public in mind, this title from Nolo is a great starting point for our patrons looking for a basic introduction to creating their own will. Included in this book is a simple form for a Texas self-proving affidavit, an "all-purpose will," and forms for several different family structures (married with children, single, divorced, or widowed with no children, etc.). 

Texas Estate Planning (James Publishing)

This e-book is aimed at attorneys, but could easily be useful to a layperson interested in creating their own will. Chapter 10 covers wills generally, including basic requirements, revocations, executions, common provisions, and bequests to minors. Chapters 11-12 cover simple wills for single people or married couples. Each of these chapters has corresponding sample forms that can be downloaded, and several chapters also include flowcharts that can help you make sense of the process. 

Texas Small-Firm Practice Tools

At first glance, this e-book doesn't seem like it would have much in the way of estate planning. However, Texas Small-Firm Practice Tools has an entire chapter (Chapter 11) dedicated to estate planning, including wills. You can also find several forms for creating your own will, including 11:60 Will, 11:80 Will with Trust, and 11:100 Will, with Trust and Marital Trust. 

Your Texas Wills, Trusts, and Estates Explained Simply: Important Information You Need To Know for Texas Residents

Tailored specifically for Texas residents, this e-book does a great job of covering the basics. Chapter 5 is dedicated entirely to wills and includes helpful definitions of legal terms related to wills and estates (like "fiduciary powers clause") as well as tips for creating your own will. This particular book doesn't contain any sample forms but might be a useful resource for anyone looking to understand the process. 

Texas Estate Planning (Bender's Texas estate & trust series)

Easily the most thorough and detailed resource available on estate planning at the State Law Library, this legal practice guide is the gold standard for anyone interested in a full overview of Texas estate planning law. Wills are covered in detail in Part 2 (Chapters 10-16), and sample forms can be found in Chapter 100. 

We also link to a number of helpful resources available online on our research guide to Wills & Estates.  If you’re having trouble deciding which drafting guide works best for you, it’s a good idea to talk to an attorney who could give you advice. Please see our Legal Help page for more information on finding an attorney.