Before you start making a will, make a list of everything you own, including: Money, Personal property, Real estate, Retirement accounts, Life insurance, policies. Some of these items will pass through your will, but others will not. Life insurance policies and retirement accounts with proper beneficiary designations and items placed in a trust are some of the assets that will not pass through a will and will not go through probate. Items that are owned solely by you are probate assets and will be devised through your will. In a will, you can make specific gifts of money or property. You can also use a separate list of personal property to give specific items to friends and family, which you can update as needed. The list cannot include real estate or money. To use a list of property, your will must refer to a written statement or list that disposes of tangible items of personal property. You can create the list before or after you execute your will. The list must be in your handwriting or signed by you, and it must clearly describe the items and who will receive them.

You can devise property or money to family members, friends, charities, or schools. A will is a great opportunity to give something sentimental to a friend or relative or to make a gift of money to someone who cared for you or made a difference in your life. Many people use their will to make a charitable gift, but you should contact a charity if you want to leave it something besides money, such as real estate or stocks. Some charities can only accept certain kinds of gifts.

Being a personal representative is an important job that can be time-consuming. You should choose someone who is willing to serve and who is trustworthy and responsible, and you should select one or two alternates who will serve if your first choice cannot. Your personal representative must be an adult and of sound mind to serve. A personal representative will manage your estate during probate and will have many duties, including: Identifying, collecting, and protecting your assets. Making an inventory of your assets. Notifying your creditors. Paying your estate’s expenses and taxes. Distributing your assets to your devisees as instructed by your Your personal representative can hire attorneys, accountants, and other professionals to help them manage your estate.

If you have minor children, your will should designate a guardian for them in your will. If both you and your children’s other parent are deceased, a guardian will raise your children. The guardian will have the authority to make decisions about your children’s health care, education, and well-being. You also should name alternate guardians in case your first choice cannot serve. When choosing your guardian, talk to your candidates and ask if they are willing to raise your children. You also should consider the following questions: Will they be physically able to care for your children? Do they have the time and energy to raise a child? Are they financially secure? Do they have a good relationship with your children? Will your child have to move far away to live with them?

In Minnesota, your will must be in writing, and you must sign it or direct another person to sign it in your presence if you are unable to sign. Two adult witnesses must sign your will after witnessing you sign it, or after you tell them it is your will and signed by you. Your witnesses can inherit from you, but it is wise to avoid using a devisee as a witness to prevent later claims of impropriety. You should consider using a notary public to make a self-proved will. A self-proved will allows a court to accept the will as validly signed without needing to track down your witnesses. To make a self-proved will, you and your witnesses must sign an affidavit attached to the will and have your signatures notarized.

After your will is executed, store it in a safe place and let your personal representative and other trusted family members or friends know where it is. Common places to store a will are: A safe place in your home. A safe deposit box. Your attorney’s office, if you hire one. If you use a safe deposit box at a bank, confirm with your bank that your personal representative and other designated people will be able to access your safe deposit box after you die. If you ask an attorney to keep your will, find out what the firm’s plans are for storing your will if the firm goes out of business. Finally, you can file your will with your local court for safekeeping. A court will keep your will sealed and confidential.

It is important to review your will when you have children or grandchildren, marry, divorce, or have a change in your financial status. Even if you do not have any major life changes, it is still a good idea to look at your will every few years to see if it still expresses your wishes. It also can be helpful to ask an attorney licensed in Minnesota to review your will to see if it needs changes.