About this template
Will – a complete template package for you who want to document how your estate should be distributed under Swedish law. The package contains a main Swedish template in Word and PDF, an English language version under Swedish law, and detailed user guides in both languages.
Legally reviewed: October 6, 2026
The review covers, among other things, the Swedish Inheritance Code's rules on testamentary capacity, formal requirements, witnesses, statutory share (laglott), revocation, service of process, and testamentary executors, as well as relevant rules on separate property (enskild egendom).
Included in the package
| Testamente – svenska DOCX | Editable main template for an individual will. |
| Testamente – svenska PDF | Print-friendly version. |
| Will – Swedish law DOCX | English language version under Swedish law. |
| Will – Swedish law PDF | Print-friendly English language version. |
| Svensk användarguide – DOCX + PDF | Step-by-step guidance with witness checklist and practical examples. |
| English user guide – DOCX + PDF | English guidance for use under Swedish law. |
Important: the template does not automatically become a valid will
Validity does not depend solely on the content. An ordinary Swedish will must be established in accordance with the Inheritance Code's formal requirements: it must be in writing, the testator must sign the document or acknowledge their signature in the presence of two simultaneously present witnesses, and the witnesses must then sign. The witnesses must know that the document is a will, but do not need to know its contents.
The template is therefore a general documentation aid. It provides clear fields and instructions but cannot guarantee validity in an individual case.
What the will template helps you regulate
The main template is modularly structured so that you can use the parts that fit your situation. It includes, among other things:
- the testator's identity details and family overview,
- provisions for specific assets or sums of money,
- distribution of the remaining estate in shares,
- alternative beneficiaries if a beneficiary predeceases the testator,
- optional clauses regarding separate property (enskild egendom),
- the option to specify how returns and property replacing the inheritance should be treated,
- voluntary appointment of a testamentary executor,
- additional instructions and special conditions,
- separate signature and witness section with space for two witnesses,
- voluntary note on where the original is stored.
Formal requirements – getting the witnessing right
The two witnesses to the will must be simultaneously present when the testator signs or acknowledges their signature. Thereafter, the witnesses must sign. The eligibility of the witnesses is important: certain next of kin and persons who benefit from the will may not witness the relevant disposition, and there are also age and suitability requirements.
The guide includes a specific witness checklist. This template is intended for an ordinary written will; special rules regarding emergency wills are not treated as the primary method in the package.
Statutory share (laglott) – important if you have forced heirs (bröstarvingar)
Under the Inheritance Code, children and other forced heirs have a right to a statutory share (laglott), which corresponds to half of the share they would have inherited without a will. A testamentary disposition that infringes on the statutory share is not necessarily automatically void, but a forced heir can request an adjustment (jämkning). That right must normally be asserted within six months from being served with the will.
The template and guide therefore help the user address the issue of the statutory share, but complex family situations should be assessed individually.
Spouse, cohabitant (sambo), and children from previous relationships (särkullbarn)
The order of inheritance differs depending on the family circumstances. A surviving spouse may have extensive inheritance rights, whereas a cohabitant has no general legal inheritance right after the other cohabitant. Children from previous relationships (särkullbarn) can also affect how the inheritance is distributed.
This product is a broad individual will template. In cases involving, for example, children from previous relationships, large asset values, companies, properties abroad, or special inheritance arrangements, a more specialized template or individual advice may be appropriate.
Separate property (enskild egendom)
The will can be used to stipulate that property a beneficiary receives shall be their separate property. The package also distinguishes between the property itself, property that replaces it, and returns/yields, as these issues are not always treated identically without explicit conditions.
Testamentary executor
There is an optional clause for a testamentary executor. Under the Inheritance Code, a testamentary executor can be tasked with managing the estate and executing the will. The role entails significant responsibility and should not be appointed casually.
Changing or revoking the will
A will can be revoked. An addendum or change intended to act as a new testamentary disposition normally needs to meet the formal requirements of a will. The guide recommends clear version control and that old originals are not left in a way that creates uncertainty about the testator's final wishes.
After the death – service of process and deadlines
The guide provides a summary of how the will is handled after death, including service of process to heirs, the possibility for forced heirs to request adjustment of the statutory share, and the deadline for filing a contestation. The will or a certified copy must also be handled in connection with the estate inventory (bouppteckning) when a will exists.
Decided regulatory change from January 1, 2027
For legal entities that acquire agricultural property through a will, from January 1, 2027, there will be expanded requirements for acquisition permits according to the Land Acquisition Act. This is a special issue that is primarily relevant when the beneficiary is, for example, a company, an association, or another legal entity and the estate includes agricultural property.
Proposals on a will register and digital wills
There is a government investigation proposal regarding, among other things, a voluntary public will register and digital wills. As of the legal review date, this is not current law. The package is therefore based on the rules that actually apply and does not rely on the existence of a future register or digital will.
Swedish + English in the same package
Swedish is the main version. The English version is an English-language version governed by Swedish law and can be practical when the testator, family members, or advisors work in English. It should not be perceived as a British, American, or universal international will.
Do you want the English version as your main product? See Will – Swedish Law →
Detailed user guides included
The guides go through how to fill out each main section and explain, among other things, formal requirements, choice of witnesses, statutory share, separate property, testamentary executor, revocation, storage, and what should be done after a death. They also contain examples, common mistakes, and situations where a lawyer should be consulted.
When the template is suitable – and when you should seek help
The template is primarily suitable for private individuals who want to draw up an individual will according to Swedish law and who want a structured foundation with clear choices and instructions.
Individual legal advice is particularly appropriate in cases involving international ties, large or complicated assets, companies or generational shifts, agricultural or forestry property, extensive issues with children from previous relationships, existing wills that need to be coordinated, suspicion of future disputes, or questions about the testator's decision-making capacity.
File format and delivery
Format: DOCX, PDF, and ZIP.
Language: Swedish and English.
Number of files: 8.
Delivery: digital download. No physical product is sent.
Frequently asked questions
Must an ordinary will be witnessed?
Yes, an ordinary written will must follow the Inheritance Code's witness formalities. Two eligible witnesses must be simultaneously present when the testator signs or acknowledges their signature, and the witnesses must sign the will.
Must the witnesses read the will?
No. They must know that the document is a will, but they do not need to know its content.
Can I bequeath away my children's statutory share?
Forced heirs have a right to the statutory share. A will can contain a provision that affects the statutory share, but the forced heir can request an adjustment to receive their statutory share within the statutory deadline.
Does my cohabitant (sambo) inherit automatically?
No, cohabitants do not have general legal inheritance rights after each other. A will is therefore often particularly relevant for cohabitants, but the Cohabitees Act's (sambolagen) rules on division of property can simultaneously affect the financial situation.
Can I use the English version in Sweden?
The English version is designed as a language version under Swedish law. In the case of international ties or foreign assets, choice of law and international inheritance law should be reviewed separately.
The template package is a general documentation aid and does not replace individual legal advice. A will must both be correctly designed for the specific situation and established in accordance with applicable formal requirements.
Prepare your will with the right guidance
Read the main guide to wills and Swedish formal requirements and, if you have children from a previous relationship, the guide on children from previous relationships, statutory share, and surviving spouses. The guides will help you distinguish between a will, a later renunciation of inheritance, and a division of estate agreement.
Will template – which document do you need?
This product is a general template for an individual will according to Swedish law. For two people who want to coordinate their provisions, there is a separate template for a joint/mutual will. If the family situation includes children from previous relationships, you can compare the special package for wills with children from previous relationships.
- Formal requirements and two eligible witnesses – checklist before signing
- Changing or revoking an older will
- Service of process, contestation, and adjustment of statutory share after death
The will should normally be signed or the signature acknowledged in the simultaneous presence of two witnesses, and the witnesses must attest the document. Children's right to a statutory share may limit the effect of the will. Check Inheritance Code (Ärvdabalken) Chapters 7 and 10. The download itself does not make the will valid.
