Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: fact-finding
Mirror wills are wills made by two people, usually married couples, that have almost the same instructions. Each person's will is like a reflection of the other person's will. For example, if one person's will says that everything they own should go to their spouse, the other person's will says the same thing. Mirror wills are not always the same as each other, and each person can change their own will without asking the other person. Other people, like siblings or business partners, can also make mirror wills.
Mirror wills are wills created by two people that have almost the same provisions. They are usually made by married couples. Each spouse's will "mirrors" the other spouse's will. For example, a married couple's mirror wills may each say that the surviving spouse gets the deceased spouse's entire estate. Mirror wills are not necessarily binding, and each spouse can change their will without asking the other spouse. They are also used by siblings, unmarried partners, or business partners.
These examples illustrate how mirror wills work. In each case, the wills are almost identical, and each person's will mirrors the other person's will. If one person dies, the other person gets everything. If both people die, their assets go to someone else.