Used to express the future tense, sometimes with an implication of volition or determination when used in the first person. Compare shall. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
Understanding will
• To be able to, to have the capacity to.
• Expressing a present tense or perfect tense with some conditional or subjective weakening: "will turn out to", "must by inference".
• To habitually do (a given action).
• To choose or agree to (do something); used to express intention but without any temporal connotations, often in questions and negation.
• To wish, desire (something).
• To wish or desire (that something happen); to intend (that).
• Implying will go.
(Noun) One's independent faculty of choice; the ability to be able to exercise one's choice or intention.
• The act of choosing to do something; a person’s conscious intent or volition.
• One's intention or decision; someone's orders or commands.
• Firmness of purpose, fixity of intent
• A formal declaration of one's intent concerning the disposal of one's property and holdings after death; the legal document stating such wishes.
• That which is desired; one's wish.
• Desire, longing. (Now generally merged with later senses.)
(Verb) To instruct (that something be done) in one's will.
• To bequeath (something) to someone in one's will (legal document).
• To exert one's force of will (intention) in order to compel, or attempt to compel, something to happen or someone to do something.
How will affects you
will appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
The mechanics of will
In practice, will is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.