Typically Wills involving married couples start with the appointment of the spouse as the executor of their estate, authorising the executor to pay all debts etc.

The next provision leaves the estate to the spouse.

The Will then normally provides that should the spouse predecease the Willmaker, the estate is to be divided equally between named children or other beneficiaries. There may also be a clause giving specific gifts or legacies to friends, relatives or charities.

Often there is a list of powers that are given to the executor in the role of trustee for the purpose of distributing the estate. Such powers give the executor/trustee some flexibility in terms of dealing with the estate during the administration period, but little real direction.

Essentially that is as far as most two or three page standard Wills go.


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