What is a mirror will?

No matter what your relationship status is, having a will is an essential part of planning for the future.

A last will and testament is a legal document that details your final wishes, including who should receive your assets, who should care for your minor children or pets, and what your funeral wishes are. Depending on your situation, there are many different types of wills to choose from.

If you’re married or in a partnership, you and your significant other may share the same estate planning wishes. In this case, you may want to streamline the will-making process by creating what are known as “mirror wills.”

What are mirror wills and how do they work?

Mirror wills are almost entirely identical wills created by married couples or partners. In a mirror will, you and your partner each name your primary beneficiaries — these are the individuals or organizations first in line to receive certain assets from your estate. When making mirror wills, these beneficiaries generally include your partner. This means that, when the first partner passes away, the other person inherits all or part of the first partner’s estate.

You’ll also name the same secondary beneficiaries in your mirror wills. These are the people or organizations who will ultimately receive your property after both of you pass away.

Mirror wills work just like an individual last will and testament, they’re simply “mirrored” to include wishes shared by partners. Here’s an example:

Tom and Janet are a married couple with children. After careful consideration, they decide to make mirror wills.

Tom’s will names Janet as the primary beneficiary of his estate, and Janet’s will names Tom as the primary beneficiary of her estate. Both wills name their children as secondary beneficiaries. This means that when both Tom and Janet pass away, their children will inherit their estates.

By creating mirror wills, Tom and Janet are able to provide for one another during their lifetimes and for their heirs after they’re both gone.

Who should make a mirror will?

Mirror wills may be a great option for you and your partner if all the following are true:

• You have nearly identical wishes for who should inherit your estate.
• You have the same beneficiaries.
• You and your partner agree on who you want to manage your estate.

Mirror wills aren’t right for every couple. You may want to consider individual wills instead of mirror wills if:

• You and your partner have different wishes for your assets and estates.
• You have different heirs, such as children from other relationships.
• You want to support different charitable causes.

Like any will, you or your partner can also revise your mirror wills at any time. So if you pass away first, your surviving partner could change their will in a way that doesn’t reflect your original shared wishes.

Frequently asked questions

How do you name an executor in a mirror will?

A will executor is the person you choose to manage and distribute your assets according to your will after you pass away. When a will is mirrored, the executor named in one spouse’s will becomes the other spouse’s will executor. Couples creating mirror wills usually name each other as their first choice executor.

If you choose to name one another as executor, you should each also name an alternate executor. This person will act as executor if your partner is unable or unwilling to serve, including if you and your partner pass away at the same time.

Can you or your partner change a mirror will?

Yes, mirror wills can be changed, and you and your partner can update your individual wills whenever you’d like. This is because mirror wills are separate legal documents, and your will belongs to you alone.

If you decide to make changes to your will, it’s usually a good idea to share that information with your partner. This helps prevent any confusion or surprise down the road. If you want to make sure that no changes can be made to your wills after you and your partner create them, consider making a joint will.

Mirror wills vs. joint wills: What’s the difference?

If you and your partner want to ensure that your shared wishes aren’t changed after one of you has passed, you could consider making a joint will. This type of will combines both your and your partner’s individual wills into a single last will and testament.

Unlike mirror wills, you and your partner can’t change or revoke a joint will unless both of you agree to do so. This means you can’t update the will after one of you dies to include gifts for new loved ones, like grandchildren born after one of you passes away.

If you’re considering joint wills, you may want to speak with an estate planning attorney.

How do charitable gifts work with mirror wills?

Leaving a charitable gift — called a bequest — in your will is a great way to support the causes and organizations that matter most to you after you’re gone. If you and your partner share the same charitable goals, you may decide to leave a bequest for a mutually decided upon cause in your mirror wills.

When you make a bequest in your mirror wills, you and your partner are each making a separate donation to the charity named in your wills. If the gift is a primary bequest, this means that the charity will receive two gifts: One when you pass away, and one when your partner passes away.

Keep in mind that the surviving partner can change their will after the first partner passes away — including any bequests made. This could mean changing the bequest amount, swapping charities, or removing the gift completely.

Protect your partner with a mirror will

Mirror wills are a great option for couples who share the same estate planning goals and final wishes. With a mirror will, you can each ensure the other's financial security first before passing your estate to your children or other beneficiaries.

You can create your mirror wills for free using FreeWill’s will-making tool. Simply complete the guided questionnaire — at the end of the process, you’ll have the option to mirror your will for your partner. In as little as 20 minutes, you and your partner can have a set of mirror wills that are ready to print and execute.