Tangible Personal Property Memorandum

TPP memos cover personal items: jewelry, furniture, art, collectibles, vehicles, firearms, and family heirlooms. They cannot dispose of money, real estate, or business interests. Those must be handled in the will, trust, or by beneficiary designation.

Items of personal property cause more family conflict than almost any other estate asset. A clear TPP memo lets the testator say exactly who receives Mom's wedding ring or Dad's tools. The memo can be updated by simply signing and dating a new version, without paying attorney fees to amend the underlying will.

The memo should be signed and dated by the testator. The will or trust must clearly reference it and incorporate it by reference. Working with an Arizona estate planning attorney ensures the memo is enforceable and consistent with the rest of the plan.

The memo is enforceable because the underlying will, executed under A.R.S. 14-2502, incorporates it by reference.