What Is a Legacy Letter—and Why It Matters More Than You Think

Over the holidays, many of us are spending more time with family, friends, and loved ones—the people who have shared our lives. Siblings who shared our childhood dreams. Parents who shaped who we are. Children whose lives we’ve helped shape.

These are also the people we name in our wills and trusts. The people we leave our “stuff” to.

And that raises an important question:
As you leave them your assets, would you also want to leave them your why?

Or perhaps an even better question—should we reflect on the why before we finalize the legal documents? Doing so can make estate planning far more personal and meaningful.

That’s where a Legacy Letter comes in.

The Difference Between a Will and a Legacy Letter

Your will or trust is essential. It’s the legal document that dictates who gets what.

A Legacy Letter is something entirely different.

A Legacy Letter is not a legal document. It doesn’t replace your will. Instead, it complements it.

Think of it as the soul of your will.

A Legacy Letter is a gift from the heart. It gives you the opportunity to explain the values that guided your life, the wisdom you gained along the way, and your hopes for the people you love after you’re gone.

It’s where you can say:

• Thank you.
• I love you.
• I forgive you.
• Here is what I hope for you.

These are the things that can’t be itemized or divided, yet they are often the most meaningful parts of any legacy.

It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be honest.

What People Often Include in a Legacy Letter

Over the years, I’ve seen Legacy Letters take many forms, but they often include three main sections.

1. Wisdom: Core Values and Beliefs

This section focuses on the principles that guided your life.

You might reflect on questions like:

• What are you most profoundly grateful for, and why?
• What values did you try to live by—honesty, resilience, kindness?
• What do you believe gives life meaning?
• If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
• What mistakes taught you the most? Is there anyone you wish to forgive—or ask forgiveness from?

This is where your hard-earned wisdom lives.

2. Life Stories and Relationships

This section preserves the narrative of your life and the relationships that mattered most.

You might include:

• A pivotal moment when you truly grew or changed
• The hardest season you ever faced and what you learned about yourself
• The best advice you ever received—and from whom
• A favorite memory with a specific loved one and what they taught you
• An achievement you’re proud of that has nothing to do with career success

These stories often become family treasures.

3. Hopes and Wishes for the Future

This final section looks forward.

You might share:

• Your greatest hope for the future of your family, community, or the world
• What you hope future generations carry forward from your family’s story
• Encouragement about attitudes or skills you believe matter most
• Guidance for navigating grief, hardship, or uncertainty
• A final blessing that summarizes your love and hopes for those you leave behind

The Legacy That Lasts

While we often assume that our financial bequests will matter most to our family, my experience suggests something different.

This letter—the words, the stories, the wisdom—often becomes the most treasured part of all.

If this idea resonates with you, I hope you’ll consider writing a Legacy Letter of your own. And if you’d like support, we’ll be sponsoring a Legacy Letter writing workshop in the future. You can sign up for our newsletter to be notified when details are announced.

And if you find this type of content meaningful, follow along here for more conversations about legacy, planning, and living with intention.

Because what we leave behind is more than what we owned—it’s who we were.

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