10 Unexpected Things You Can Leave in Your Will (Save the Family Recipe!)

Planning for the future often starts with building solid retirement plans, but it shouldn't end there.

Your legacy is more than numbers in a bank account: It's also the stories, memories, and thoughtful gifts that can bring comfort and connection to your loved ones.

With a little planning, you can help important items to live on. Here are some things you might consider leaving in your will that go beyond dollars and cents.

Imagine the smell of your grandmother's barbecue sauce or your dad's Christmas cookies. Family recipes do more than feed us: They tell stories and evoke memories.

Leaving behind a cherished recipe helps ensure your memory lives on at the dinner table long after you're gone.

Many estate planners recommend you create a book or ‌binder with your favorite recipes, along with a personal note about why those recipes are meaningful.

Leaving behind a gift to a nonprofit is about more than having your name etched on a bronze plaque: It allows you to continue nurturing foundations and causes that matter to you.

So, think about giving money to your favorite organizations so you can help them survive to serve future generations.

Legendary escape artist and magician Harry Houdini allegedly left his wife a will that contained 10 code words. He wanted her to know the code so he could use it to identify himself when visiting from the afterlife.

Apart from gifting your heirs an Ouija board, you likely can't give them the powers of supernatural telepathy. But you can help them crack other codes, such as passcodes to vaults and bank accounts.

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Your collection of vinyl records, antique teacups, or baseball cards might hold more sentimental value than financial worth. But to the right person, these items are priceless.

So, use your will to be intentional about who will get these treasures.

Collections tell a story about your interests and passions. By designating a specific heir, you ensure these items are appreciated and cared for by someone who understands their significance.

You also leave a tangible way for them to physically connect to your memory.

Your furry friend is family, and ensuring a pet's well-being after you're gone can be as simple as including provisions for the animal in your will.

While you can't transfer ownership directly to a pet through a will, you can designate a trusted friend or family member to care for them.

To ease the financial burden, it's smart to leave a legacy big enough to cover the cost of the pet's food, medical care, and other needs.

And if the designated individual you select cannot care for the pet, make backup provisions, such as a preference for the animal to find a new home through a specific welfare group.

What's more exciting than the thrill of a winning lottery ticket? Leaving behind unclaimed tickets can be a surprising and delightful gesture, even in a time of grief.

If your heirs hold the winning numbers, they could still claim the prize. It's not unheard of for a person to die with unclaimed lottery winnings. A few years ago, a Michigan man died with an unclaimed lottery ticket worth $45,000 in his pocket.

A significant portion of our lives — romance, socializing, media, and even work — has gone digital. This great leap forward can make inheritance more complex.

To simplify matters, leave a detailed list of your online assets, including logins, passwords, and any other necessary tools to access information.

If you run an internet-based business — such as a YouTube channel or a revenue-generating Instagram account — careful planning is crucial. Be sure to designate who will inherit these accounts to ensure a seamless transition.

Wills often focus on significant assets such as homes and savings, or pricey items such as oil paintings and baby grand pianos.

But smaller, sentimental objects can carry just as much emotional weight. Personal belongings — such as costume jewelry, family photographs, or even a wooden mixing spoon— may hold deep meaning for loved ones.

Include instructions for these belongings to ensure they're passed on to the people who will want to honor your memory and preserve the items for future generations.

From grocery store rewards to hotel chain frequent-guest programs, loyalty points can add up to significant savings over time.

Many people forget about these points when writing their will, but they could be a small gold mine for family members.

Some programs may have restrictions, such as no transfers upon death. But explicitly stating your intentions and leaving instructions to transfer or redeem points will ensure nothing gets overlooked.

Don't let hard-earned frequent flyer miles go to waste: Those air miles you've accumulated could be a meaningful gift for loved ones.

As with other loyalty programs, not all airlines allow air miles to be transferred upon death. However, others —like American Airlines — may permit transfers under limited circumstances if the air miles are specifically bequeathed to an individual in your will.

Look up your airline's policy to see what's permitted and which documents are required.

Thoughtful planning can protect your wishes and bring comfort to loved ones. Chances are good that you want to protect your wealth and pass it on to future generations.

But you shouldn't stop there.

Consider leaving behind a personal letter or video message to share your values and stories as a final gift that transcends material possessions. Also think about adding some of the things on this list to your will.