Free Single Person's Will Template for Sweden

Sverige

Create a single person's last will and testament under Swedish law. Decide who shall inherit, address the statutory share, legacies, separate property and appoint an executor in one clear document.

Create Your Agreement Now

Free to use — no credit card required

What this template does

A single person's last will lets you, as the sole testator, decide how your estate shall be distributed when you die. You can appoint who shall inherit, give specific items or amounts as legacies, and stipulate that the inheritance shall be the recipient's separate property.

The template is drafted in accordance with Swedish inheritance law and takes into account the statutory share (laglott) of direct heirs, the right of children from previous relationships (särkullbarn) to receive their inheritance directly, and the option to appoint an executor to administer the estate.

When do you need this document?

You need this if…

  • You want to decide for yourself who inherits your estate
  • You want the inheritance to be the recipient's separate property
  • You have children from a previous relationship or a cohabitant and want to regulate the inheritance clearly
  • You want to give away specific items or sums of money as legacies
  • You want to appoint an executor to administer the estate
  • You want to revoke previous wills and start from scratch

You probably don't need this if…

  • The statutory order of inheritance already fully matches your wishes
  • You and your partner want to draw up a joint (mutual) will
  • Your situation is so complex that you need individual legal advice

What the will contains

The agreement covers the following areas.

Identification and revocation

  • Testator's name and personal identity number
  • Revocation of previous wills
  • Declaration that the document constitutes the testator's last will

Family situation and statutory share

  • Civil status: single, cohabitant or married
  • Information about the statutory share of direct heirs
  • Right of children from previous relationships to direct distribution

Dispositions and distribution

  • Specific legacies for items or sums of money
  • Universal disposition to a partner with free right of disposal or full ownership
  • Other beneficiaries and their shares
  • Separate-property clause

Robustness and formalities

  • Substitution rules if a beneficiary dies before the testator
  • Residual clause for unknown or overlooked assets
  • Option to appoint an executor
  • Signature with two witnesses pursuant to the Swedish Inheritance Code

Important to keep in mind

  1. Direct heirs always have the right to their statutory share (half of their statutory portion) and may request adjustment if the will infringes upon it.
  2. Children from a previous relationship (särkullbarn) have the right to receive their inheritance directly upon the parent's death, even if a surviving spouse remains.
  3. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed by two simultaneously present witnesses who are not themselves beneficiaries.
  4. Witnesses may not be under 15 years of age, suffer from mental disorder, or be the spouse/cohabitant, sibling or direct heir of the testator or of a beneficiary.
  5. Store the will safely and tell someone you trust where it is — a lost original can be difficult to rely on.
  6. Review the will at major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of new children or deaths in the family.

Legal validity

A will in Sweden is governed by the Inheritance Code (ärvdabalken) and must satisfy certain formal requirements to be valid. It must be made in writing, signed by the testator and attested by two simultaneously present witnesses who certify the testator's signature.

This template provides a structured starting point under Swedish inheritance law, but every family situation is unique. In more complex circumstances — for example foreign property, business ownership or special family constellations — it is wise to also consult a lawyer before the will is signed.

Customise your single person's last will and secure your final wishes today.

Create Your Agreement Now

Free to use — no credit card required

Common situations

Single without children

You want specific persons or an organisation to inherit instead of distant relatives under the statutory order of succession.

Cohabitant who wants to protect a partner

Since cohabitants do not inherit each other under Swedish law, the will is used to allow the partner to inherit with free right of disposal or full ownership.

Married with children from a previous relationship

You want to regulate the distribution so that both your spouse and your children from a previous relationship are treated as you wish, within the limits of the statutory share.

Protecting the inheritance as separate property

You want to ensure that the inheritance your child receives is not divided in a possible future divorce or separation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between free right of disposal and full ownership?

Free right of disposal (fri förfoganderätt) means that the recipient may use and sell the property but not bequeath it. When the recipient later dies, the residual inheritance goes to the testator's heirs.

Full ownership (full äganderätt) means that the recipient may decide entirely over the property, including bequeathing it to others.

Can I disinherit my children?

No. Direct heirs (children, grandchildren) always have the right to their statutory share, which corresponds to half of the share they would have received under the statutory order. The other half — the so-called disposable portion — you may freely bequeath.

How shall the will be witnessed?

Two witnesses shall be simultaneously present when you sign the will or confirm your signature. The witnesses shall know that it is a will, but they do not need to know its contents. They shall then sign themselves and state their personal details.

The witnesses may not be beneficiaries or close relatives of beneficiaries, may not be under 15 years of age, and may not suffer from a mental disorder that makes them unable to understand the document.

What is a legacy?

A legacy is a disposition of a specific item — for example a piece of jewellery, a car or a fixed sum of money — that shall be distributed before the rest of the estate is divided among the universal beneficiaries.

Do I need to register the will anywhere?

No, there is no central will registry in Sweden. Store the original safely, for example in a safe-deposit box or with a lawyer, and tell someone you trust where it is. Some people also choose to register the place of storage with private providers offering that service.

Can I change my will later?

Yes, you may revoke or change your will at any time as long as you have testamentary capacity. The simplest way is to draw up a new will in which you expressly revoke previous wills — something this template also does automatically.

Create Your Agreement Now

Free to use — no credit card required

Create Your Agreement Now
Browse editor