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Various items of tangible personal property may be disposed of by your Will. You may use a separate writing or Memorandum to dispose of your tangible personal property. Examples of such property include jewelry, silverware, antiques, stamp collections, china, glassware, furniture and furnishings.

The Memorandum may be handwritten or typed, and it must be dated and signed by you. Although not required, it is recommended that your signature be witnessed.

A Living Will states the extent to which an individual wishes to be provided life sustaining treatment if: (1) the individual is terminally ill or permanently unconscious; (2) the life sustaining treatment is experimental, likely to be futile, or merely prolong the dying process; or (3) the individual has a serious irreversible illness, and the benefits of treatment are outweighed by its risks and burdens. The Living Will can state a preference against (or for) specific life sustaining treatments. A Health Care Proxy appoints a representative to implement the Living Will and make health care decisions in cases where a Living Will does not apply, such as a stroke. Additionally, you may face medical circumstances that were not considered at the time you wrote your Living Will. Although you can have either part without the other, it is usually recommended that you have both.

Most people name a relative, close friend, or religious advisor. Your health care representative should understand your wishes, and be prepared to carry them out. Sometimes, beneficiaries of your estate may feel torn between the responsibility of carrying out your intentions and knowing that they will inherit part of your estate.

An Executor is personally liable if the Executor violates or fails to perform any duty owed to the beneficiaries (e.g., a duty of diligence and due care) and if the breach is intentional or negligent. If so, the beneficiaries can sue the Executor to recover the value lost because of the breach. Thus you should name as Executor only those individuals or institutions that have the expertise and responsibility to properly administer an estate.