Letters of Intent
Share your values, wishes, and guidance to help loved ones understand your estate plan.
Craft a letter that honors your values & leaves a lasting legacy
What Is a Letter of Intent?
Personal and Flexible
Unlike your will—which is bound by legal formality—a Letter of Intent is your opportunity to speak freely. You can express your values, explain why you made certain decisions, or convey final messages that can’t fit into legal language.
Non‑Legally Binding yet Influential
It doesn’t have legal standing, so its content can’t conflict with your will. However, it holds significant weight with executors and families because it reveals your true intentions.
A Source of Authority and Direction
This letter can address topics not covered in your will or formal documents. From wishes for pets and digital assets to funeral plans and personal reflections—it offers a guiding voice
Why You Need One
Creates Emotional Understanding
Sharing your motivations and sentiments helps loved ones understand your legacy. A Letter of Intent bridges the gap between what you want and why you want it—offering clarity during emotional times.
Guides Caregivers and Executors
Your letter can provide practical advice, such as naming guardians for minors or sharing care routines for pets. This helps the people responsible for your estate feel confident and supported in their roles.
Reduces Conflict and Ambiguity
By explaining your decisions—especially around sentimental belongings or digital assets—you reduce the chance of confusion or disputes among family members.
Preserves Family Traditions and Stories
Including personal anecdotes, heirloom histories, or the meaning behind long-standing traditions helps preserve your family’s story and maintain meaningful connections for future generations.
Provides Practical Details
Your Letter of Intent is also a place to include important information like passwords, safe combinations, and account locations, as well as trusted service providers or preferred charities. These details can ensure that nothing important is overlooked.
What to Include
Here’s a more detailed roadmap:
Opening & Personal Message
Begin with your name and the date. Set a warm tone with a message like “With love and gratitude…” and use this section to share encouragement and final thoughts with your loved ones.
Funeral & End-of-Life Wishes
Explain your preferences for a funeral or memorial—such as burial versus cremation—and share any wishes for readings, music, dress code, or charitable donations in lieu of flowers.
Distribution of Personal Effects
Provide clear guidance on sentimental items. For example, “My mother’s pearl necklace to my daughter.” This is also a space to address any concerns about particular heirlooms or requests.
Guardians, Dependents & Pets
Share the names of proposed guardians and any caregiving routines for dependents or pets. You can include dietary preferences, medications, vet contacts, or school choices to help maintain consistency in their care.
Digital & Financial Assets
List types of digital and financial accounts, such as banking, email, or social media, and how to access them. You can also explain what you’d like to happen to your online presence after you’re gone.
Health, End-of-Life & Medical Instructions
While not legally binding, this is a space to share personal feelings around palliative care, life support, or milestones you hope to reach. It provides insight into your preferences that might not fit into a legal directive.
Charitable and Community Wishes
Express the importance of any charities, causes, or community work. You might also encourage your family to carry on any traditions of giving or volunteering that were meaningful to you.
Personal Values, Family History & Legacy
Share life stories, lessons learned, or values you hope to pass on—like compassion, resilience, or environmental stewardship. This is where you help paint the bigger picture of who you are and what matters to you.
Special Instructions or Side Notes
Add personal wishes that don’t fit neatly into legal documents. These might include reminders to preserve family recipes, notes about photo albums, or even requests like “Use this guitar for the kids’ music lessons.”
Closing Message
End with reassurance and love. You might say, “I trust you to love and support each other,” or thank your loved ones for their role in your life. This final message leaves a lasting emotional impression.
How It Fits with Your Estate Plan
Complementing Your Legal Documents
The Letter of Intent works alongside your will and power of attorney. It shouldn’t replace legal instructions, but instead help explain them in more personal terms. You can even reference the letter in your will, such as: “I have written a Letter of Intent dated April 1, 2025, which I intend to be treated as a non-binding expression of my thoughts.”
Separate and Adaptable
Because the letter is non-binding, it’s more flexible than a will. You can update it anytime without formal legal steps, making it easy to adjust as life changes.
Accessible but Secure
Make sure the letter is easy to find when needed. Store a copy with your estate planner, share it with your executor, and keep a digital or physical copy in a safe location.
Why Choose Mather & Company?
Empathetic Writing
We take time to understand your story, emotions, and goals so we can help craft a letter that speaks clearly—and from the heart.
Attention to Nuance
From digital legacy planning to eco-friendly funeral wishes, we ensure your voice is heard and respected in every detail.
Holistic Integration
Your Letter of Intent is part of a complete estate plan. We make sure it works in harmony with your will, powers of attorney, and representation agreements.
Clarity for All
In difficult times, clarity brings peace. Your letter helps reduce confusion, prevent conflict, and provide comfort to your loved ones.
Long-Term Support
As life changes, we’re here to help you update and refine your letter so it always reflects your current wishes and relationships.
Example Excerpt
Dear Children,
“First, know how deeply I love each of you. I have always been proud of your kindness, determination, and independence…”
Funeral Wishes
I would like a lakeside service at Killarney Park, with a reading from Emily Dickinson and ‘Amazing Grace’ sung by Aunt Rachel. Please wear bright, casual attire; I want this to be a celebration, not a mourning…
Heirlooms
Grandma’s brooch, to be worn by Emily on her wedding day—and afterwards, to be passed to her first-born daughter.
Pets
Benny and Daisy thrive with morning walks in the park. Please ask the neighbor, Holmes, to help, or consider hiring Walker’s Pet Care—he knows them well.”
This example is to illustrate tone and content—it will of course be fully personalized in your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this legally binding?
No. A Letter of Intent doesn’t carry legal weight like a will, but it’s still a meaningful and persuasive document for executors and family members.
Who should receive copies?
We recommend giving a copy to your executor, a trusted family member, and your advisor at Mather & Company. You should also store an additional copy in a secure digital or physical location.
Can it contradict my will?
No. Your letter should never conflict with your will or legal documents. We ensure everything complements your estate plan and avoids confusion.
What if I don’t have pets or digital accounts?
No problem. Your Letter of Intent is entirely flexible. You can include as much or as little as applies to your life and values.
How often should it be updated?
We recommend reviewing and refreshing your letter every three to five years, or any time major life changes happen—like marriages, births, moves, or health events.
Begin Today
Your Letter of Intent is more than paperwork—it’s a love letter to those you leave behind. It offers solace, clarity, and meaning during a challenging time.
Contact us now to schedule your personal planning session.
Let us help you craft a letter that honors your values and leaves a lasting legacy.