The introductory clause is the first paragraph of your simple will and immediately follows the document’s title. The introductory clause plays a very important role; it identifies you as the testator and declares that the simple will is your last will and testament. The introductory clause also provides certain details about you to help ensure that your simple will is not mistaken for the will of a different person.
Required Reading
Use Your Full Legal Name
As with the title, you need to use your full legal name in the introductory clause of your simple will. However, if you commonly go by a different name, such as a nickname, the introductory clause gives you the opportunity to clarify that fact. See the model language (below) to get an idea of how to indicate other names that you use other than your full legal name.
Your City, County, and State
In the introductory clause, you will identify the city where you live, as well as the county and state in which that city is located. The city you write into the introductory clause will be the city where you reside as of the date that your simple will is executed. If you do not reside within any city’s limits, you can leave the city out of the introductory clause, but you should still include the county and state where you reside.
Since you are following these instructions, your state should, of course, be Washington.
Write Your Introductory Clause
Open your copy of the simple will. Edit the introductory clause of your simple will so that it uses one of the following formats. Replace the highlighted text as appropriate. Use Model 1 if you do not want to list your nickname, former name, or other names. Use Model 2 if you commonly go by a nickname that is very different from your full legal name. Use Model 3 if your full legal name changed, but people still call you by your old and new names.
Introductory Clause: Model 1
I, [your full legal name in ALL CAPS], of [city], [county] County, Washington, do hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, that is to say:
Introductory Clause: Model 2
I, [your full legal name in ALL CAPS], sometimes also known as [your nickname], of [city], [county] County, Washington, do hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, that is to say:
Introductory Clause: Model 3
I, [your full legal name in ALL CAPS], formerly known as [your old full legal name], of [city], [county] County, Washington, do hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, that is to say:
Example of an Introductory Clause
Below is an example of how the introductory clause of a simple will might look for a testator from Spokane whose full legal name is Jane Marie Doe but whose friends and family call her Anne.
I, JANE MARIE DOE, sometimes also known as Anne Doe, of Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, do hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, that is to say:
Once you have completed the introductory clause of your simple will, go back to the list of instructions.
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