Sample Legacy Letters

Below are examples of Legacy Letters. Some are short, others long; some are contemporary and others date back to medieval times. They are written by a variety of people including grandparents, parents, an aunt, a 29-year-old woman with cancer, a mother to her unborn child, and a 100-year-old woman. I hope they spark ideas for your Legacy Letter.

Please feel free to send me your Legacy Letter via the contact page. I could possibly post it on this page. The letter can be anonymous, if that makes you feel more comfortable.

  • A tribute Legacy Letter from adult daughter to her parents
  • A five page letter from a mother to her teenage children
  • A one-paragraph Legacy Letter
  • A two-page Legacy Letter
  • A thirteen-page Legacy Letter from a grandfather to his children and grandchildren
  • An introduction from an eight-page Legacy Letter
  • A letter from a 100-year-old woman
  • A Legacy Letter from a dying 29 year old woman
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  • A Legacy Letter was written by a 38-year-old to her as yet unborn child
  • A Legacy Letter by an aunt for her nieces and nephews
  • A Legacy Letter from a mother written to her son
  • President Obama's Legacy Letter to his daughters
  • A medieval ethical will (1 of 2)
  • A medieval ethical will (2 of 2)
  • A letter from a 78-year-old mother to her son
  • A letter from a mother in her 70's writing to her adult son and daughter
  • A letter from an 84 year-old mother and grandmother with early Alzheimer’s
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    A Legacy Letter by an aunt for her nieces and nephews:

    January, 2009

    My Beloved Nieces and Nephews -

    I want you to know what is important to me, and I leave you this legacy:

    Each of you has added a rich and beautiful texture to my life since the day of your birth! I have forever watched over you, hoped the best for you and shared many family adventures with you.

    For four generations, my eyes have also watched our family struggle with alcoholism - grandparents, parents, my siblings and now some of you, the youngest among us. Alcoholism robs the family of joy, trust, hope and enthusiasm - even if you are not the alcoholic. Some of the harshest pain that I have ever known was watching my Dad's suffering with addiction for over thirty years and Mom's umbilical dance with this devil we call alcoholism.

    Yet somehow, early on, I was inspired to step away from home and try to change the nature of my engagement with Life. Rather than follow the familial paths that I'd known, I've worked hard to foster my own wellbeing, joy and wonder for Life. At the same time, I have always been willing to step back into the fray of family struggles in hopes that I could hold up different paths and choices for you to see.

    I pray that, if you would honor me and accept one small gift, then let it be this thought: Let true joy be the only addiction in your life! If joy eludes you, then change the nature of your engagement with this wondrous world. Simply try something different! Hope, inspiration and wonder are far more worthy companions than alcohol. Trust this, and God will guide you to your joy!

    All my love,

    Sources: Leah Dobkin, www.PersonalLegacyAdvisors.com, http://www.ethicalwill.com/examples.html, http://www.life-legacies.com.