How long should a legacy letter be?

A legacy letter can be as long or as short as you like. A single heartfelt page is perfectly enough, while some people choose to write several letters to different people over time. Sincerity matters far more than length.

Is a legacy letter legally binding?

No. A legacy letter has no legal standing and should not be used to give instructions about money or property. For legal matters, you need a will. The two can work well together.

What's the difference between a legacy letter and an ethical will?

They are essentially the same thing. 'Ethical will' is the older, traditional term, while 'legacy letter' is the more commonly used modern term. Both are intended to pass on values, life lessons, and personal sentiments rather than possessions.

When should I write a legacy letter?

You can write a legacy letter whenever the thought occurs to you. There is no need to wait for a particular age or occasion. Many people choose to write one around a birth, a milestone birthday, or another significant family event.

Can I write legacy letters to more than one person?

Absolutely. Many people write separate legacy letters for different individuals. This allows you to share thoughts, memories, and messages that are unique to each relationship.

If you were to pass away today,
what would you regret not having said to your loved ones?

Write your legacy letters before the chance is gone.

Guiding Videos
None over 4 min

60+

Guided topics & sentence starters

~2 hrs

Blank page to first letter

If something happened to you today, would they truly know how you felt?

Not what you assume they know. The important things. Your love and appreciation for them. Your feelings, values, wishes and sentiments.

“I always thought I’d say it when I had more time.”

Time assumes we’ll use it. This course turns “someday” into this afternoon, with structure and prompts at every step.

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

60+ guided topics with sentence starters for every one. You never face a blank page alone.

“My family knows I love them. Is a letter really nesseary?”

They know you love them. But do they know why you’re so proud? What you see in them. What key truths would you encourage them to hold onto? What family history do you alone carry? That’s what a legacy letter contains.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

After writing their first letter.

“I sat down thinking it would take an hour. I was still writing three hours later because I was having such fun remembering key moments.”

— Austin, Texas

“I found that I learnt so much about myself in the process of writing these letters to my close friends.”

— Port Charlotte, Florida

“I wrote a letter to my daughter today. It’s the most important gift that I could give her.”

— Denver, Colorado

"I sat down thinking it would take an hour. I was still writing three hours later because I was having such fun remembering key moments."

— Austin, Texas

"I found that I learnt so much about myself in the process of writing these letters to my close friends."

— Port Charlotte, Florida

"I wrote a letter to my daughter today. It's the most important gift that I could give her."

— Denver, Colorado

“Your Will tells people who gets the money. It says nothing about how much you loved them, or what you may have wanted to say at future events, like a wedding, a birthday or a celebration if you weren’t there to say it.“

JONATHAN DUNWOODY: YOUR LEGACY OF WISHES & SENTIMENTS

Ebook + 9 Guiding Videos

$50

One payment • Instant access • No subscription

The complete book Your Legacy of Wishes & Sentiments
9 personal video lessons with Jonathan (Login to view videos)
60+ legacy letter topics & sentence starters
Letter templates for every relationship
Legal clarity guide for your estate
Lifetime access, return whenever you're ready

Secure checkout

I have sat with hundreds of grieving families, and have watched the same intense loss and grief, every time.

I’m Jonathan Dunwoody. I’ve spent decades as a Financial Advisor sitting with families after loss. Again and again, Wills were read in sterile rooms — legally precise, emotionally empty. The real questions went unanswered. Permanently. I wrote Your Legacy of Wishes & Sentiments to change that. You don’t need to be a writer. You need structure, and the courage to begin.

HOW IT WORKS

From blank page to heartfelt letter, in an afternoon.

Understand your why

I move you from being unaware to excited. Most people skip this step. It’s the most important one.

Choose your recipients

Family, great friends, people who shaped you. Most people are surprised by how many names come to mind.

Select your topics

60+ prompts with two sentence starters each. The blank page problem disappears entirely.

Write your first letter

Build it piece by piece using the templates. Most people find it more joyful and emotional, than they expected.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.

The book and videos work together. One as your companion, one as your guide. Finish in a single afternoon.

The Complete Book

60+ prompts, letter templates, real examples, and sentence starters for every occasion.

9 Video Lessons

Nine sessions with Jonathan. None over 4 minutes. Your pace, your timeline.

60+ Topics & Starters

Two personalised-ready sentences per topic: gratitude, memories, future occasions, wisdom.

Letter Templates

For every relationship. Includes the paragraph that legally separates your letters from your Will.

Legal Clarity Guide

How your letters coexist with your estate — in plain language. No lawyers required.

Lifetime Access

Write one letter now, another next year. This course stays with you as your legacy grows.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

The unspoken legacy of a mother.

A single mother had three sons. Two had struggled financially. The third, and youngest, had done very well, and quietly paid her bills for years without being asked. When she died, she left everything to the older two. They needed it. He didn’t. It made complete sense. But she never told him that. He didn’t care about the money. What broke him was not being named in her will or any other communication. Not a word. Nothing that said: I saw what you did. I’m grateful. I loved you for it.

“A single legacy letter, written while she was still alive explaining her intentions, would have changed everything. That letter didn’t exist.”

A few questions you're probably holding.

Do I need to be a good writer?

No, you just need to be intentional and start now.

Is this only for older people, or people who are unwell?

Death can come out of the blue – a sudden shock. It can come slowly overtime – often as we get older. Or it can be accelerated due to an illness. Either way, it is worth acting now.

Will my letters complicate my legal Will?

No, we supply you with specific wording to use to prevent any confusion.

How long does the process take?

You can do this in 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months, depending on how many letters you want to write.

I always mean to do things like this but never follow through.

Now is the time to write the letter. Do not live with regrets.

If you were to pass away today, what would you regret not having said to your loved ones?