Your Washington, D.C. last will and testament, created with confidence
Create your last will and testament forms easily from home and in under an hour with FindLaw’s guided process.

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- Being part of a blended family
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- Being part of a blended family
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Are you looking to have your estate planning basics covered?
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Do you want to leave gifts to people or a charity?
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Do you want someone to handle your health care decisions if you are unable?
Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?
Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?
Do you want someone to handle your health care decisions if you are unable?
Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?
Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?
Speaking with
a FindLaw Attorney
- Being part of a blended family
- Caring for children with special needs
- Establishing and maintaining trusts
- …and any other concerns you have!

Estate Planning Package
For One person
- Last will and testament
- Health care directive
- Power of attorney
- Free HIPAA release form
- A comprehensive plan — for less
- Free changes and revisions for up to one year after purchase
Power of Attorney
For one person
- Step-by-step guided process
- A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Health Care Directive
For One Person
- Step-by-step guided process
- A health care directive tailored to your needs
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- Free HIPAA release form
- Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
Last Will and Testament
For One Person
- Step-by-step guided process
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Estate Planning Package
For two people
- Two wills, health care directives, and powers of attorney
- Two free HIPAA release forms
- You and your loved one create your own estate plans tailored to your individual needs
- Attorney-approved documents customized to your state’s laws
- Free changes and revisions for up to one year after purchase
Power of Attorney
For two people
- Step-by-step guided process
- A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- Free changes and revisions to your power of attorney for up to one full year after purchase
Health Care Directive
For Two People
- Step-by-step guided process
- A health care directive tailored to your needs
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- Free HIPAA release form
- Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
Last Will and Testament
For Two People
- Step-by-step guided process
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Health Care Directive + Power of Attorney
For one person
- Step-by-step guided process
- A health care directive tailored to your needs
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- Free HIPAA release form
- Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
- A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Last Will and Testament + Power of Attorney
For one person
- Step-by-step guided process
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
- A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
Last Will and Testament + Health Care Directive
For One Person
- Step-by-step guided process
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
- A health care directive tailored to your needs
- Free HIPAA release form
- Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
Health Care Directive + Power of Attorney
For two people
- Step-by-step guided process
- A health care directive tailored to your needs
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- Free HIPAA release form
- Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
- A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
- Free changes and revisions to your power of attorney for up to one full year after purchase
Last Will and Testament + Power of Attorney
For two people
- Step-by-step guided process
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
- A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
- Free changes and revisions to your power of attorney for up to one full year after purchase
Last Will and Testament + Health Care Directive
For Two People
- Step-by-step guided process
- Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
- A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
- Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
- A health care directive tailored to your needs
- Free HIPAA release form
- Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
Fast, easy, reliable Washington, D.C. forms
If you die without a valid will in Washington D.C., your possessions will pass according to the law of intestate succession. Intestate succession means that your estate will be divided based on what the law says, and that could be different from what you actually want. If Washington D.C. intestacy laws come into play, you and your family lose control over your estate’s distribution. The benefit of a will is that the control remains in your hands.
With FindLaw, you can easily create a will. Click on the links below to jump down the page:
A Washington, D.C. will option to suit your needs
Last Will and Testament
For One Person
A do-it-yourself last will that’s easy to personalize.
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Estate Planning Package
For One person
All the forms you need to create a personal estate plan
How It Works
It only takes minutes to control your future. Need help? Contact one of our directory attorneys.
Create an account
Create a secure account which is accessible through an easy dashboard you can access any time.
Gather information
You will need a list of your assets, contact information for important people, and any wishes you want to be honored when you’re gone.
Complete your documents
Answer all questions, then we’ll generate your digital documents for downloading, printing, and signing.
Make it legal
Carefully follow the instructions provided in the form, which may include signing your documents in front of witnesses or a notary.
Next steps to create your Washington, D.C. will
If you want a will, you can hire a lawyer or use a will form from a reliable source. If you use a form, follow these steps:
Get an understanding of your estate and your assets
Get a good feel for what is a part of your estate and what is not. In order to make a valid will, you must be able to demonstrate the necessary testamentary or mental capacity. There is no set definition of testamentary capacity, but many courts have reasoned that if a person has an idea of what property they own, it is a good indication that they intend to give their property away at their death.
Name your beneficiaries
You should give the full names and addresses of your beneficiaries to help your executor locate them when the time comes. You should also provide a comprehensive list of your assets. Make sure to include both real property and personal property. Real property refers to real estate like houses, land, and investment properties. Personal property covers everything else you own, like cars, furniture, and personal possessions. If you want specific items to go to specific people, you should include these details in your will.
Pick a personal representative
The personal representative is responsible for administering your estate according to your wishes. Any individual or business can act as a personal representative (such as a lawyer or bank). You should trust your personal representative to handle your estate properly. While the probate process is underway, your personal representative will work closely with your family and the courts. A personal representative should be appointed and a “back-up” agent should be named to act in their place if they can no longer fulfill their duties as a personal representative.
Sign and notarize
A last will and testament does not have to be notarized to be valid in Washington, D.C. However, Washington, D.C. permits wills to be “self-proving.” A self-proving will is one that is signed by the testator and at least two witnesses in front of a notary public.
Update your will as necessary
Your will should be updated after every major life change. Such changes may include the birth of children or divorce and remarriage.

You may want to speak with a lawyer if you:
- Have a past divorce, blended family, or other complex family situation
- Have a high-value estate
- Own a business
- Want to create a special needs trust
- Want legal review of your completed will
Ready to begin your District of Columbia will?
Create my willCommon questions about Washington, D.C. wills
In a last will and testament, you expressly state what assets you own and to whom you intend to leave these assets. The effect only takes place after death. A will should name a personal representative who will handle and manage your estate after you die. Whenever you have minor children, you should name someone to act as their guardian. You should also name a secondary guardian in case your primary choice cannot care for your children.
Under the laws of Washington, D.C. every will must conform to the following standards:
- Be in writing
- Be signed by the testator (i.e., the person who is executing the will) or a person under the direction and in the presence of the testator
- Have attesting witnesses present to verify that this is the last will and testament of the testator and that they signed the document
It can be intimidating to think about writing your will. FindLaw’s attorneys made the process simpler and easier. Using FindLaw’s DIY tool, you can begin the process of creating a Washington, D.C. will.
Estate plans do not only include a last will and testament. Although a will is very important, and everyone should have one, a complete estate plan should also include a living will and advance directive. These are documents that can appoint a person to make decisions regarding your medical treatment in the event of your incapacity. In a document like a living will or advance directive, you can direct your family on whether you want life-sustaining treatment options.
“Testamentary capacity” refers to the testator’s mental ability to create and sign a legal document that distributes their property and names guardians for their minor children at death. Courts have recognized several ways for a plaintiff to prove testamentary capacity was not present when the will was executed, including that a testator did not know the extent of their estate or who would receive their estate if they left no will.
Yes, you can revoke a last will and testament. Since provisions of a will do not take effect until after your death, you are able to make changes to the will until your death.
In Washington, D.C. you can revoke your will by:
- Destroying the will (i.e., burning, tearing, etc. )
- Making a new will that expressly revokes the previous will
It is important to note that, if you revoke your previous will but never write a new will, your property will pass via intestate succession in Washington, D.C. Additionally, if you divorce your spouse, your previous Washington, D.C. last will and testament will be automatically revoked entirely. Make sure that you keep your last will and testament updated.
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