What it is
A letter of wishes is a document you write alongside your will that gives your executor additional guidance. It is not legally binding and does not form part of your will. But it can be enormously useful for the people who have to administer your estate after you die.
What it can cover
A will deals with the legal distribution of your estate. A letter of wishes deals with everything else.
Common uses include explaining the reasoning behind decisions in your will (particularly useful if you have treated beneficiaries unequally or excluded someone entirely), giving instructions for personal items that are not worth leaving as formal specific gifts in the will (a collection, family photographs, sentimental objects), and setting out your preferences for things a will cannot make legally binding, such as the care of pets or how a family home should be used if multiple people inherit it.
If you have set up a discretionary trust, a letter of wishes can guide the trustees on how to exercise their discretion: which beneficiaries to prioritise, under what circumstances to release funds, and so on.
Funeral wishes
PureWill's will form includes a section for funeral preferences. These are already noted in your will as advisory and non-binding. A letter of wishes is a good place to expand on them with the specifics your family will want to know: the music you would like, where you want your ashes scattered, who should be contacted first.
What makes a letter of wishes effective
Keep it clear and personal. The point is to give your executor real, practical guidance — not legal language. Write it as if you are explaining your decisions to someone you trust, because you are.
Keep it with your will, or tell your executor where it is. A letter of wishes nobody can find is worthless.
Update it when your circumstances change. Unlike a will, a letter of wishes does not need to be witnessed or signed in any formal way. You can simply write a new one, date it, and replace the old version.
What it cannot do
A letter of wishes cannot override your will. If there is a conflict between them, the will governs. It also cannot bind your executor to any course of action — they must follow the will; the letter is guidance, not instruction. Choose an executor you trust to take your letter of wishes seriously.
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Is your situation complex? Blended family, overseas property, business interests, or trusts? Please find a qualified solicitor. PureWill is for straightforward estates only.