Estate Heir Chart Maker

Build a family inheritance share chart and download it as a printable PDF — showing the estate tree diagram and each heir's share. No account, no upload. Runs entirely in your browser.

Step 1 — Deceased person

Full name of the deceased Estate title / note optional Date of death optional

Step 2 — Add heirs

Enter each heir's name, relationship, and share. Shares can be percentages (e.g. 50%) or fractions (e.g. 1/2). They do not have to sum to 100% — you can note partial distributions.

Total shares: —

Step 3 — Generate PDF

Chart preview

Add heirs above to see a preview.

All data stays in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.

A4 format · includes tree diagram and share table · ready to print or attach

How it works

This tool builds a one-page A4 PDF directly in your browser using pdf-lib. No data ever leaves your device.

1. Enter the deceased Name, optional estate title, and date of death appear at the top of the PDF.

2. Add heirs Each heir gets a name, relationship (Spouse, Child, Parent, Sibling, Trust, Other) and a share.

3. Share formats Enter 50%, 1/2, 1/3, 25%, or any fraction. The tool normalises and displays both formats.

4. Download PDF The PDF contains a box-and-line tree diagram plus a summary table listing every heir and their share.

This tool does not calculate legal shares. It is a documentation aid — you enter the shares agreed upon by attorneys, the estate plan, or family consensus, and the tool produces a clean, printable reference document.

Frequently asked questions

What is an estate distribution chart used for?: An estate distribution chart — sometimes called an heir chart or inheritance diagram — shows who inherits from a deceased person's estate and in what proportion. It is used by executors and administrators to communicate the distribution plan clearly to all beneficiaries, attorneys, and financial institutions. It can accompany a probate filing, be shared at a family meeting, or be kept with the estate documents as a plain-English reference alongside the will or trust agreement.
Does this tool calculate legal inheritance shares automatically?: No — and intentionally so. Intestate succession laws differ by country, state, and province, and even within a jurisdiction the shares can vary based on whether there is a surviving spouse, how many children exist, or whether assets are community property. This tool is jurisdiction-neutral: you enter the shares as determined by the estate plan or legal advice, and the tool generates a clean chart you can print and distribute. Always consult a qualified estate attorney or probate specialist for the actual legal figures.
What share formats can I enter — percentages or fractions?: Both. You can type 50%, 25%, 12.5% for percentages, or 1/2, 1/4, 1/3, 2/3 for fractions. The tool converts fractions to a percentage for the total check and shows both representations on the PDF. Mixed entry is fine — one heir can be 1/2 and another 25%.
Is my family data kept private?: Yes. The entire tool runs inside your web browser using JavaScript. Names, relationships, and share figures are never transmitted to any server — they exist only in your browser's memory while the page is open, and only in the downloaded PDF file thereafter. There is no account, no login, no cloud storage, and no analytics that capture form content.
Can I include trusts, charities, or non-family beneficiaries?: Yes. Use the "+ Add Group / Trust" button to add a beneficiary labelled as a Trust, or select "Other" from the relationship dropdown for charities, family friends, or any non-standard beneficiary. The name field accepts any text, so you can write "Smith Family Revocable Trust" or "Red Cross — charitable bequest" and it will appear on the chart exactly as typed.