Pour-over will

The law of wills and trusts
Part of the common law series
Inheritance
Intestacy  · Testator  · Probate
Power of appointment
Simultaneous death  · Slayer rule
Disclaimer of interest
Types of will
Holographic will  · Will contract
Living will
Joint wills and mutual wills
Parts of a will
Codicil  · Attestation clause
Incorporation by reference
Residuary clause
Problems of property disposition
Lapse and anti-lapse
Ademption  · Abatement
Acts of independent significance
Elective share  · Pretermitted heir
Contesting a will
Testamentary capacity  · Undue influence
Types of Trusts
Express trust  · Asset-protection trust
Protective trust  · Spendthrift trust
Charitable trust  · Honorary trust
Resulting trust  · Constructive trust
Special Needs trust
Doctrines governing trusts
Pour-over will  · Cy pres doctrine
Other areas of the common law
Contract law  · Tort law  · Property law
Criminal law  · Evidence

A pour-over will is a testamentary device wherein the writer of a will creates a trust, and decrees in the will that the property in his estate at the time of his death shall be placed in the trust. Under the common law of England, such devices were long held to be void, because the testator could change the disposition of the trust at any time, and therefore could essentially execute changes to the will without meeting the formalities required for such acts. More recently, however, many jurisdictions have adopted the view that a pour-over will is a legitimate device, and have given them effect.