A wills is a legally binding document that a person writes to control how his estate shall be governed after his death. Anyone setting up a wills of their property is called testator (maskulinum) or testatrix (femininum).

Testament has its origins in Roman law and gave the Romans a small community an opportunity to distribute his estate in a different way than the usual inheritance. It was not long before wills was recognized in the Germanic countries, where the nobles and peasants wanted to preserve the properties within families. The church, however, urged wills would be recognized as these could give a contribution to church activities.

A wills is a one appointment, which means that it is establishing a wills that determines what Testament shall contain. In order for a person to establish a wills he must be competent, which means that the person must meet certain requirements, For example, to be 18 and over (or 16 years if he / she has been married or want to bequeath property he owns) and not under the influence of mental disorder.

A wills is a person's last wishes, which are expressions of a wills not binding on the drawing up such but he has the right to change this at any time. Amendment of wills The same procedure as the establishment of such. It is always the last-written Testament applying, Act.

Testamentstagaren may be natural or legal person (such as a limited company, State, a municipality or a foundation).

For people get testator or testatrix bequeath in favor of a person born or bred at the testator's death. The same applies entitled to inheritance descendants if they are born or bred at the testator's death (cf 1:1 ärvdabalken). Siblings who were not born at the testator's death shall have the same right to their inheritance of 9 Chapter. 2 § ärvdabalken.

About tested thorn have children (heirs of the first class inheritance) they always have entitled to half of the heritage they would have received if Testament had not been, which is the s.c. laglotten.

Some formkrav applies to Testament shall be legally valid, For example, it shall be in writing and witnessed by two non-disqualified (they may not directly or indirectly inherit in the will) Witnesses. Both witnesses must simultaneously witness the testator's signature, or the testator suffered from the same. They do not know the Testament contents.

Unless the testator, for reasons such as illness or emergency, is unable to establish a Ordinary wills, as above, offered in the Act (10 Chapter. 3 § ärvdabalken) two opportunities to order their estate through so-called nödtestamente.

The first method mentioned in the Act is that the testator orally before two unbiased witnesses tell their mandate (Oral wills).

The second method is that the testator in the document personally signed orders on the property. The latter document is usually called holograph will. A nödtestamente Not anymore, after the testator testamenterandet for three months was able to establish a ordinary wills.