Vermont Legal Last Will and Testament Form for Civil Union

VERMONT WILL INSTRUCTIONS — CIVIL UNION PARTNER WITH NO CHILDREN

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This will is designed to be completed on your computer. To do so, use your mouse and click on each field which will be highlighted in gray. This will replace the gray with the words you type.

Example: _____________________________[1] will become JOHN DOE.

ARTICLE / FIELD COMPLETION INSTRUCTIONS

Field [1] - Your name.

Field [2] - Your name.

Field [3] - Your County of Residence.

ARTICLE ONE

Field [4] - Type the name of your partner.

ARTICLE THREE

This article is for you to specify specific property to go to a specific person. If you do not leave any, type none and delete the fields.

Field [5] - Type name.

Field [6] - Type street address.

Field [7] - Additional Address line.

Field [8] - City, State, Zip.

Field [9] - Relationship.

Field [10] - Describe the property to go to this person.

Field [11] - Type name.

Field [12] - Type street address.

Field [13] - Additional Address line.

Field [14] - City, State, Zip.

Field [15] - Relationship.

Field [16] - Describe the property.

Field [17] - Type name.

Field [18] - Type street address.

Field [19] - Additional Address line.

Field [20] - City, State, Zip.

Field [21] - Relationship.

Field [22] - Describe the property.

ARTICLE FOUR

Field [23] - Type name of your partner.

ARTICLE FIVE

Field [24] - Type name of your partner.

ARTICLE SIX

Field [25] - Type name of person(s) to receive estate if partner predeceases you.

Fields [26] - [28] Omitted.

ARTICLE SEVEN

Field [29] - Type name of Personal Representative.

Field [30] - Type name of successor Personal Representative.

ARTICLE TEN

Field [31] - Type the name of your partner. This clause is a common disaster clause and provides whose Will will control if you both die in a common disaster.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

Field [32] - Type name of Cemetery.

Field [33] - Type County.

Field [34] - Type State.

ENDING AND SIGNATURE

Field [35] - Your name.

Field [36] - Your name.

Field [37] - Your name.

Field [38] - Your name.

Field [39] - Your name.

Field [40] - Your name.

Field [41] - Your name.

All other blanks in the Will are typically completed by hand, such as the names of the witnesses, day, month and year executed, etc.

Once you have completed the Will, double check all entries and then print. The Will should be signed by you in front of three witnesses, not related to you. Please sign all pages of the Will in the places designated.

The self-proving affidavit is used to prove the Will and make the Will subject to probate. If the affidavit is not completed now, someone will have to locate the witnesses after your death and obtain an affidavit. Therefore, it is best to sign the Will in the presence of two witnesses AND a notary public so that the affidavit can be completed by the Notary.

You should keep your Will in a safe place once executed. It is also recommended that you give a copy to your executor or other person as additional proof of execution.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR WILL FORM

This section will briefly explain some of the articles of your will and provide other information. Articles of the Will which are basically self explanatory are not discussed here. In addition, information which is already provided in the instructions above is not repeated.

First Paragraph: The first paragraph of the Will, provides your name, residence information and provides that all prior Wills, if any, are revoked since you have now made a new Will.

Article Three: Some people have specific property that they desire to leave to a specific person, such as a ring or antique. This Article is for you to leave such property. You do not have to name specific property and may simply state none if no property is to be left under this Article.

Article Seven: This Article is for you to name a personal representative, also called executor or executrix. The person named should be an adult and may be your partner or relative.

Article Eight: If not waived, some Courts will require your Personal Representative post a bond, and file an inventory, accounting and/or appraisal. All can be costly and time consuming. This Article states your intention that your Personal Representative not be required to post a bond or file an inventory or accounting.

Article Nine: This Article sets forth powers of your Personal Representative and is designed to give broad powers without the requirement that Court approval be sought for action by the Representative to the extent permitted by the laws of your State.

Article Ten: This article sets forth some legal construction intentions to clarify some of the issues which may arise. It also contains a common disaster clause which provides that if you and your partner die in a common disaster, your Will is to have precedence. In cases where you and your partner are making Wills, you would only include this paragraph in one Will, or state in both which Will is to control.

BASIC INFORMATION

What is a Will? A Will is a document which provides who is to receive your property at death, who will administer your estate, the appointment of trustees and guardians, if applicable, and other provisions.

Who may make a Will? Generally, any person 18 years or older of sound mind may make a Will. (Some states allow persons under 18 to make a Will)

What happens if I die without a Will? If you die without a will you are an intestate. In such a case, state laws govern who receives your property. These laws are called "intestate succession laws". If you die without a Will, the Court decides who will administer your estate. Generally, it is more expensive to administer an estate of a person who died without a Will, than a person who dies with a Will.

General

When making a Will you need to consider who will be named as your personal representative or executor to administer your estate, who you will name as guardian and trustee of minor children if your partner does not survive you and who will receive your property. You should also consider tax issues. The person appointed as executor or administrator is often your partner, but you should also name an alternate, in case your partner predeceases you. The person you name should be a person you can trust and who will get along with the beneficiaries named in the Will.

In the event your partner predeceases you, the guardian you name will have actual custody of your minor children unless a court appoints someone else. The trustee you appoint to administer a trust you established will be in charge of the assets of the trust for the benefit of the minor beneficiaries.

Generally, a Will must be signed in the presence of at least two witnesses who also sign the Will. A notary public will also need to sign if the Will contains a self-proving affidavit. Generally, a self-proving affidavit allows the Will to be admitted to probate without other evidence of execution.

Joint Property: Many people do not understand that joint property may pass outside your Will and also sometimes assume that it will pass through their Will. They do not understand the significance of joint ownership. The issue is common in the following areas, provided as examples:

(a) Real Estate: Often, a civil union couple will own real estate as joint tenants with rights of survivorship. If one party dies, the surviving party receives the property regardless of what the Will provides. This is common and generally acceptable. However, if this is not your desire you should change the ownership of the property to tenants in common or other form of ownership. If you own real estate as tenants in common, then you may designate who will receive your share of the property at your death. This issue can be a problem when uninformed persons take title to real estate as joint tenants with rights of survivorship but really intended to leave their share to, for example, children of a prior marriage.

(b) Bank Accounts/Certificates of Deposit, Stock, Retirement Plans, IRA’s and other type Property: The same ownership as real estate can be made of these investments. In fact, many Banks routinely place Bank accounts and Certificates of Deposit in the joint tenant with right of survivorship form of ownership if more than one person is on the account or CD, without advising you of the consequence of same. In situations where the persons are in a civil union and there is no issue or concern over separation or children from previous marriages, this may be the best course of action. However, with divorce on the rise, premarital agreements and multiple marriages being common, the parties may be doing something that was not their intent. Another common problematic situation is where a parent has more than one child but only one child resides in the hometown of the parent. The parent may place the name of the child who resides there on all accounts, CD’s and other investments for convenience reasons and establish a joint tenant with right of survivorship situation without realizing that only that child will be entitled to those assets at the parent’s death. Simply put, you should be aware when you acquire an asset or investment exactly how it is titled.

For additional information, see the Law Summary and Information and Preview links in the search results for this form. A Definitions section is also linked on the Information and Preview page.

DISCLAIMER/LICENSE/LIABILITY LIMITATION

All forms in this package are provided without any warranty, express or implied, as to their legal effect and completeness. Please use at your own risk. If you have a serious legal problem we suggest that you consult an attorney. U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. does not provide legal advice. The products offered by U.S. Legal Forms (USLF) are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF

BE IT KNOWN THIS DAY THAT,

I, , of County, Vermont, being of legal age and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not acting under duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence of any person, do make, declare and publish this to be my Will and hereby revoke any Will or Codicil I may have made.

ARTICLE ONE
Civil Union and Children

I am in a civil union with and have no children.

ARTICLE TWO
Debts and Expenses

I direct my Personal Representative to pay all costs and expenses of my last illness and funeral expenses. I further direct my Personal Representative to pay all of my just debts that may be probated, registered and allowed against my estate. However, this provision shall not extend the statute of limitations for the payment of debts, or enlarge upon my legal obligation or any statutory duty of my Personal Representative to pay debts.

ARTICLE THREE
Specific Bequests of Real and/or Personal Property

I will, give and bequeath unto the persons named below, if he or she survives me, the Property described below:

In the event I name a person in this Article and said person predeceases me, the bequest to such person shall lapse and the property shall pass under the other provisions of this Will. In the event that I do not possess or own any property listed above on the date of my death, the bequest of that property shall lapse.

ARTICLE FOUR
Homestead or Primary Residence

I will, devise and bequeath all my interest in my homestead or primary residence, if I own a homestead or primary residence on the date of my death that passes through this Will, to my partner, , if he or she survives me.

ARTICLE FIVE
All Remaining Property – Residuary Clause

I will, devise, bequeath and give all the rest and remainder of my property and estate of every kind and character, including, but not limited to, real and personal property in which I may have an interest at the date of my death and which is not otherwise effectively disposed of, to my partner, .

ARTICLE SIX
Contingent - All Remaining Property – Residuary Clause

In the event that my partner shall predecease me, I will, devise, bequeath and give all the rest and remainder of my property and estate of every kind and character, including, but not limited to, real and personal property in which I may have an interest at the date of my death and which is not otherwise effectively disposed of, to:

If I name more than one person under this article, such persons are to receive the property equally, per stirpes, or equally, or the survivor.

ARTICLE SEVEN
Appointment of Personal Representative, Executor or Executrix

I hereby appoint , as Personal Representative of my estate and this Will.

In the event my Personal Representative shall predecease me, or, for any reason, shall fail to qualify or cease to act as my Personal Representative, then I hereby appoint to serve as successor Personal Representative of my estate and Will.

ARTICLE EIGHT
Waiver of Bond, Inventory, Accounting, Reporting and Approval

My Personal Representative and successor Personal Representative shall serve without any bond, and I hereby waive the necessity of preparing or filing any inventory, accounting, appraisal, reporting, approvals or final appraisement of my estate.

ARTICLE NINE
Powers of Personal Representative, Executor and Executrix

I direct that my Personal Representative shall have broad discretion in the administration of my Estate, without the necessity of Court approval. I grant unto my Personal Representative, all powers that are allowed to be exercised by Personal Representatives by the laws of the State of Vermont and to the extent not prohibited by the laws of Vermont, the following additional powers:

1. To exercise all of the powers, rights and discretions granted by virtue of any "Uniform Trustees' Powers Law," and/or “Probate Code” adopted by the State of Vermont.

2. To compromise claims and to abandon property which, in my Executor’s opinion is of little or no value.

3. To purchase or otherwise acquire and to retain any and all stocks, bonds, notes or other securities, or shares or interests in investment trusts and common trust funds, or in any other property, real, personal or mixed, as my Personal Representative may deem advisable, whether or not such investments or property be of the character permissible by fiduciaries, without being liable to any person for such retention or investment.

4. To settle, adjust, dissolve, windup or continue any partnership or other entity in which I may own a partnership or equity interest at the time of my death, subject, however, to the terms of any partnership or other agreement to which I am a party at the time of my death. I authorize my Personal Representative to continue in any partnership or other entity for such periods and upon such terms as they shall determine.

5. To lease, sale, or offer on a lease purchase, any real or personal property for such time and upon such terms and conditions in such manner as may be deemed advisable, all without court approval.

6. To sell, exchange, assign, transfer and convey any security or property, real or personal, held in my estate, or in any trust, at public or private sale, at such time and price and upon such terms and conditions (including credit) as my Personal Representative may deem advisable and for the best interest of my estate, or any trust.

7. To pay all necessary expenses of administering the estate and any trust including taxes, trustees' fees, fees for the services of accountants, agents and attorneys, and to reimburse said parties for expenses incurred on behalf of the estate or any trust hereunder.

8. Unless otherwise specifically provided, to make distributions (including the satisfaction of any pecuniary bequest) in cash or in specific property, real or personal, or in an undivided interest therein, or partly in cash and partly in other property.

9. To determine what is principal and what is income with respect to all receipts and disbursements; to establish and maintain reserves for depreciation, depletion, obsolescence, taxes, insurance premiums, and any other purpose deemed necessary and proper.

10. To participate in any plan of reorganization, consolidation, dissolution, redemption, or similar proceedings involving assets comprising my estate or any trust created hereunder, and to deposit or withdraw securities under any such proceedings.

11. To perform such acts, to participate in such proceedings and to exercise such other rights and privileges in respect to any property, as if she or he were the absolute owner thereof, and in connection therewith to enter into and execute any and all agreements binding my estate and any trust created hereunder.

12. To compromise, settle or adjust any claim or demand by or against my estate, or any trust, to litigate any such claims, including, without limitation, any claims relating to estate or income taxes, or agree to rescind or modify any contract or agreement.

13. To borrow money from such source or sources and upon such terms and conditions as my Personal Representative shall determine, and to give such security therefor as my Personal Representative may determine.

All authorities and powers hereinabove granted unto my Personal Representative shall be exercised from time to time in her or his sole and absolute discretion and without prior authority or approval of any Court, and I intend that such powers be construed in the broadest possible extent.

ARTICLE TEN
Construction Intentions

It is my intent that this Will be interpreted according to the following provisions:

1. The masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine as well as the neuter, and vice versa, as to each of them; the singular shall be deemed to include the plural, and vice versa.

2. The term “testator” as used herein is deemed to include me as Testator or Testatrix.

3. This Will is not a result of a contract between myself and any beneficiary, fiduciary or third party and I may revoke this Will at any time.

4. If any part of this Will shall be declared invalid, illegal, or inoperative for any reason, it is my expressed intent that the remaining parts shall be effective and fully operative and it is my intent that any Court so interpreting same construct this Will and any provision in favor of survival.

5. In the event that my partner, , and I die under circumstances where it is difficult to determine who died first, I direct that I be deemed to have survived her/him and the terms of my Will shall take precedence over any Will or Codicil that he/she may have made, notwithstanding any provisions of the law to the contrary.

ARTICLE ELEVEN
Misc. Provisions

I direct that this Will and the construction thereof shall be governed by the Laws of the State of Vermont.

(I have placed my initials next to the provisions below that I desire to adopt. Unmarked provisions are not adopted by me and are not a part of this Will)

If any person named herein is indebted to me at the time of my death and such indebtedness be evidenced by a valid Promissory Note payable to me, then such person’s portion of my estate shall be diminished by the amount of such debt.

Any and all debts of my estate shall first be paid from my residuary estate. Any debts on any real property left herein shall be assumed by the person to receive such real property and not paid by my Personal Representative.

I desire to be buried in the cemetery in County, .

I direct that my remains be cremated and that the ashes be disposed of according to the wishes of my Executor.

I, , having signed this Will in the presence of and who attested it at my request on this the day of , 20 at , declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.

WITNESSES

CERTIFICATION

STATE OF VERMONT

COUNTY OF

PERSONALLY appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the county and state aforesaid, and , who, being by me first duly sworn, makes oath to the following:

1. The undersigned were subscribing witnesses to that certain instrument of writing dated , which is the true and original Last Will and Testament of , the “Maker”.

2. That the Maker signed, published and declared said instrument as his or her Last Will and Testament on the day of , 20, the date of said instrument, in the presence of us as three (3) subscribing witnesses.

3. The Maker was then and there of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and was over eighteen (18) years of age.

4. The undersigned as competent adults, subscribed and attested said instrument as a witness to the signature, publication and declaration thereof by the Maker, at the special instance and request of the Maker, in his or her presence and in the presence of each of us as witnesses.

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me, this the day of , 20.

NOTARY PUBLIC

MY COMMISSION EXPIRES: