What "inheritance wishes" actually means
An inheritance wish is simply a record of intent: a note, a conversation, an entry in an app like My Heirloom Story saying who you'd like a specific item to go to. It reflects what you want. It doesn't, by itself, have any legal force. Anyone involved, including the person who wrote it, can change their mind, and nothing obliges anyone to follow it after you're gone.
What makes a will legally valid
A valid will has to meet requirements set by the law of the country (and sometimes the region) you live in. Common forms include:
- A handwritten will, entirely in the testator's own handwriting, dated and signed. Typed or printed text usually invalidates it, even if signed.
- A notarial or authenticated will, prepared by a notary or legal professional according to your instructions.
- A witnessed will, signed in the presence of witnesses who also sign it.
Which forms are valid, and exactly what they require, differs by country. A will that's valid in one place may not be recognised in another. This is not something to guess at: ask a lawyer or notary where you live.
Why the difference matters
Without a valid will, what happens to someone's belongings after they die is usually decided by the default inheritance rules of their country, not by what they'd told their family informally. A verbal promise, a list, or a note in a drawer generally isn't enough to override that, no matter how clearly the intention was expressed.
This matters most for the things people feel strongly about: a specific item promised to a specific person, an unequal division that was actually agreed on by everyone, or anything meant to go outside the usual rules.
Wishes and a will aren't in competition
Recording your wishes and having a legal will aren't alternatives to each other. They do different jobs:
- Wishes capture the story and the reasoning: why an item matters, who it was promised to, what it meant. This is easy to update and easy to share with family while you're alive.
- A will makes the parts that need to be binding actually binding.
A practical approach: record your wishes somewhere your family can see and understand them, then have anything that truly needs legal weight written into a valid will by a professional where you live.
How My Heirloom Story fits in
My Heirloom Story records your wishes: which heirloom goes to whom, and why, alongside photos and the story behind each item. It is not a will, and using it doesn't create any legal obligation. For anything you want to be legally binding, take your list to a lawyer or notary in your own country.
Read more about dividing sentimental items without conflict, or see pricing.