Jira & Confluence 
Bitrix24 Before an operation
A letter to your family before surgery — calm, practical, ready in an evening
Short answer. Write a short letter to your family before the operation: a few words, who to call, where your papers are. The letter is open below — fill it in, print it or save it. It is not a will: in the Philippines a will is either written entirely by your hand, dated and signed (Civil Code, Art. 810), or notarial, with three witnesses and a notary (Arts. 805–806).
Start typing right in the document — no sign-up. It stays in this browser; save it to your free Layers account to keep it, open it on your phone and share it.
What is inside
- A few words to the people you love
- Who to call first
- Where your papers are — IDs, insurance, SSS / GSIS / PhilHealth, bank, titles
- Children, pets and the home
- Your wishes
- Where passwords are kept — never the passwords
A letter, a will — what the law asks (Philippines)
| What | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Letter to your family (this page) | No form required — it guides the people you love but does not pass on property | — |
| Every will | In writing, in a language or dialect you know | Civil Code, Art. 804 |
| Holographic will | Entirely written, dated and signed by your own hand; no witnesses needed | Civil Code, Art. 810 |
| Notarial will | Signed by you and three or more credible witnesses, every page signed on the left margin and numbered, with an attestation clause | Civil Code, Art. 805 |
| Notarial will — acknowledgment | Acknowledged before a notary public by you and the witnesses | Civil Code, Art. 806 |
Text of the Civil Code read on 19.10.2026. For a will about land, a business or a family with children from different marriages, talk to a lawyer or a notary.
Step by step
What to do, in order
1
Write the first lines
Start with section 1 — a few words in your own voice. Short is fine.
2
Map your papers
Fill in where your IDs, insurance and bank papers are, and who to call first.
3
Print or download
Print it, or download the Word file. Keep one copy at home, give one to a person you trust.
4
Decide about a will
If you also want to pass on property, write a holographic will by hand or see a notary — the table above shows the form.
5
Save it in Layers
Save it free to update it later — after the event, on a birthday, once a year.
Questions
When should I write it?
Whenever you feel ready — many people write it in the quiet evening before admission, and update it later. Nothing in it needs to be final.
Is this letter a will?
No. It tells your family what you want and where things are, but it does not pass on property. A will must follow the form in the Civil Code — holographic (Art. 810) or notarial (Arts. 805–806).
Can I use this page as a draft for a holographic will?
Yes, as a draft. The will itself must be entirely written, dated and signed by your own hand (Art. 810) — a typed or printed copy is not a holographic will.
Do I have to sign up?
No. The letter is open right here — type, print or download it. Sign in free only to keep your own copy and update it later.
Official sources
Other documents
Keep the papers in one place
Letters, receipts and notices in one folder you can share with family or a lawyer. The templates and the editor are free; Layers is free for up to 20 people.