No doubt you have heard of wills and trusts before, as well as the concept of estate planning. But what about ethical wills? Not many people use, or even know what, an ethical will is. In short, an ethical will “bequeaths values, ideas, and personal reflections to family members and other loved ones.” It can describe one’s life and discuss significant events that occurred in one’s lifetime.
An ethical can also be understood by what it is not. An ethical will is not a legally binding document. Unlike traditional wills, an ethical will does not transfer real or personal property after someone’s death. Instead, an ethical will conveys emotion and personality while offering a prophetic message or conveying personal values and ideals.
The history of ethical wills goes back to early Biblical times and is rooted in Jewish tradition. Initially, ethical wills were passed on only orally by Jewish people and did not become memorialized in writings until centuries later. Ethical wills are not often used today, primarily because ethical wills are not legally binding documents. As such, many people feel that an ethical will lacks importance or significance as part of the state planning process. A recent article in The New York Times, however, discusses how ethical wills are being “revamped for the tech age.”
Using Today’s Technology to Create Ethical Wills
The article states that ethical wills are increasingly being created through modern technology, including videos, DVDs, digital scrapbooks, iPhones and Facebook pages. People are turning to technology and ethical wills to pass on life lessons and moral philosophies.
The concept of using technology to create ethical wills is not new. Michael Keaton, in the movie My Life, popularized the concept of creating a video biopic to immortalize himself and to teach his child life lessons. The only difference today is that technology has changed and made it easier for people to create ethical wills. With the technological development of phones, cameras, phone apps, and editing software, people can seamlessly use technology to create their own ethical wills. For example, people can use their phones to create video selfies or use a PowerPoint slide show. There are even iPhone apps that people can use to create an ethical will.
Contact a California Estate Planning Attorney
It is important to remember that ethical wills are not legally binding documents and cannot be used in lieu of a traditional will to dispose of property. In this regard, an ethical will should be thought of as a supplement to a traditional will. If you need help with estate planning and administration, you should contact a California estate planning attorney.
At Janathan L. Allen, APC, we have a team of experienced estate planning attorneys to help families with a variety of estate planning issues. From creating a trust or will to litigating estate disputes, we can help you with a wide range of issues. Contact our California estate planning attorneys today for a free initial consultation. We have offices located in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County.