There are many different ways to transfer real property and personal property to others. For example, you could transfer property to your loved ones as gifts before you die. Wills are used to dispose of the property that is still in your estate when you die.

Listing the assets that you own can be a great way to start the process of estate planning. Make sure you remember to include the following assets:

• Bank accounts
• Real estate
• Stocks and bonds
• Motor vehicles

Also consider whether you have any items of sentimental value that you would like to reference in your will. Many people have jewelry, art, or other types of personal property they want a particular person to receive when they die.

Your beneficiaries are the people who will receive something in your will. Consider the family members, friends, or neighbors you’d like to name as your beneficiaries. You could also have a charitable or another type of organization that you’d like to include in your will. Be sure to specify which charities you’d like to name as beneficiaries and use the full legal names for individuals who you want to receive property.

A guardian is a person who will take care of your minor child or incapacitated adult child if you (and your spouse) should die. It is essential to pick someone you trust to take on this role for your children so that a court doesn’t end up making a choice for you.

There are a few things to consider when choosing a guardian for your children. First, make sure the person you’d like to serve as a guardian can handle the responsibility of caring for your child. Secondly, you need to consider the possibility that the person may become incapacitated or otherwise unable to care for your child. If the person you chose can’t perform the duties of a guardian, you’ll need to name an alternate guardian in your will.

Sometimes called a personal representative, an executor is the person who will administer your estate. An executor’s duties include handling any remaining debts and distributing the property in your estate to the beneficiaries. You should pick someone you trust and who can appear in court if necessary.

You should also pick an alternate executor. That way, if your first choice for an executor is unable to fulfill the role, you’ll already have an alternate named in your will.

Laws vary from state to state, and there are different requirements for the proper execution of a will. If your will is not executed properly under New Hampshire law, then someone could challenge its validity.

Under New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 551:1, the person making the will must be at least 18 years of age (or younger and married) and of sane mind. The person who’s making the will is called the testator.

In addition to the requirements for the testator, there are requirements for the will itself. Under New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 551:2, the will must be:

• In writing
• Signed by the testator (or by someone else at the testator’s direction and in the testator’s presence)
• Signed by at least two credible witnesses

It’s not required that a New Hampshire will be notarized. However, it’s generally a good idea to do so. When a will is notarized, it’s “self-proving.” This means that a court probably won’t have to hear testimony from the witnesses regarding the validity of the will like it does for one that is not notarized. Calling forth witnesses could prolong the probate process for your family and delay the distribution of your assets.

Some states allow unwitnessed holographic wills (handwritten wills), but New Hampshire does not.

It’s important that the people who’ll need to access your will when you die are able to get access to it. For example, some people have placed their wills in safe deposit boxes that the executor can’t access. When this happens, family members may have to go to court to get authorization to access the box before they can begin the probate process.

To avoid hassle and delay, put your will in a safe and accessible place. Also, you should be sure to let your executor know where it is stored. For example, you may want to store your will in a safe in your home and let your executor know how to access it.

You might need to revise your will at some point. When major life events occur, it could be important to update your estate planning documents. For example, the birth of a child or a change in your marital status could make revisions necessary.