Legal & Estate Planning

Intent Precedes Content

Before the documents come the intentions. Headstone’s entire legal framework is built on this principle. A will is not just a distribution of assets — it is a final statement of who you were, what you valued, and what you wanted for the people you leave behind.

The documents here are templates, not substitutes for legal counsel. They are starting points — designed to be filled with your specific intentions, reviewed by a qualified attorney, and made official in your jurisdiction.

Available Documents

• California Last Will & Testament Full template with digital assets clause (Article VI) and personal intentions section (Article VIII). References CA Probate Code §6110. Two witnesses required, notary recommended.
• Example Will — Johnny Bettencourt A living example: Nevada County, California. Includes personal Intentions article, family tree, and Headstone governance directive. Draft for reference — not legal advice.
• Other States & Territories In progress. See the full roadmap below.

Your Headstone & Digital Estate

If you have a Headstone, your will needs to address it. These instructions are designed to slot into any will template — add them as Article VI or a standalone attachment.

1. Name an executor for your digital legacy This person will have access to your Headstone to carry out your wishes. They should be someone who understands technology and respects your privacy. Choose a successor as well.
2. Specify what happens to your Stone You have options:
   — Pass it to a family member to continue (curate, maintain, add to)
   — Freeze it (permanent archive, no further additions)
   — Release it to the public or designated recipients as a Ripple
   — Delete it entirely (permanent destruction)
3. Define who sees what Your Headstone may contain layers of privacy. Specify which parts are accessible to whom after you’re gone — family, close friends, researchers, the public. Your LifeLine may have sections intended only for your children, or only for your partner.
4. Address your $Tone holdings and data value If you hold $Tone tokens or have accrued value through data sharing, specify:
   — Who inherits your $Tone holdings
   — Whether your certified data continues to generate value for your estate
   — Voting power in the data union (assigns to an heir or dissolves)
5. Instruct your Ripple — your digital continuation If you have authorized an e-ghost or Ripple, specify:
   — How long it persists after you’re gone
   — Who can interact with it
   — Whether it can be updated with new information
   — Sunset conditions (retire after a set time, or persist indefinitely)
6. Name a backup executor In case your primary executor cannot serve. Consider someone in a different generation or location for perspective and availability.

Availability by State & Territory

We’re building templates for all 50 states, D.C., and U.S. territories. Each will account for local requirements — witness count, notarization, community property rules, and civil law variations where applicable.

Louisiana and Puerto Rico use civil (Napoleonic) law — their templates are adapted for civil law requirements, including notarial will execution and forced heirship. Always consult a local attorney.

Coming Soon

• Living Trust Revocable trust to manage assets during your lifetime and distribute them after. Often avoids probate entirely. Will pair with the Headstone governance document.
• Healthcare Directive / Advance Directive Your medical wishes if you cannot communicate them yourself. State-specific requirements.
• Durable Power of Attorney Authorizes someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.
• Digital Asset Authorization (Standalone) A shorter document specifically for your online accounts, passwords, and Headstone — useful even without a full will.
• Letter of Instruction Non-legal companion to your will. Tells your family where to find things, what matters to you, your funeral wishes.

International (Phase 2)

As Headstone grows beyond the U.S., legal templates will expand to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the EU, and beyond. Each jurisdiction has unique requirements for wills, digital estate planning, and data inheritance. The federation architecture (Native In Each Domain) means each jurisdiction may eventually have its own legal team maintaining compliant documents.