How to Write a Will for an Unborn Child

You can use a will to accomplish many purposes, including naming guardians for your children, leaving specific bequests to your loved ones and nominating someone to manage your estate until it can be distributed. Though it is typically wise to update your will as your circumstances change, you can include provisions for your unborn children as well as living family members.

You can write a will to say almost anything, but it is important to be clear with your wording. If the people you leave behind don't understand what you meant, they can't use your will to properly distribute your property. They may have to rely on a judge to interpret your will if it is unclear.

Thus, your will must clearly state that you intend to leave certain bequests to your unborn child. Wills often include gifts to categories of people, such as all of the writer's children, but this may not be clear enough. Instead, you may wish to include a statement that defines children as both your existing children and any children you may hereafter have.

State laws may vary in this area, and your state may require certain specific language to ensure your gift is distributed properly. Previously decided court cases in your state may help you or your attorney craft a will to meet your specific needs by looking at how courts have interpreted certain phrases and wording in the past.

Wills also must be executed, or signed, in accordance with your state's laws. If you fail to meet your state's basic requirements, your entire will could be declared invalid by a probate court after your death.