You need to know what you own and whether items will pass through your will or other means. Think about everything you own, including money, real estate, personal property, retirement accounts, and life insurance policies.

Assets will pass through your will and go through probate if you are the sole owner. Items that have beneficiary designations, like life insurance and real estate, will not pass through your will unless the designation is defective. Items you own as joint tenants with another person and marital property owned with your spouse will not pass through probate unless your spouse or joint tenants die at the same time as you. If you place items in a trust, they will not pass through probate.

In Wisconsin, you can create a tangible list of personal property that serves as an addition to your will. This list only should be used for tangible property like jewelry, clothing, and books. You cannot use it to give away money, real estate, or other intangible items like stocks, and it cannot devise property that is devised in the will.

To be valid, a tangible list of personal property must list in detail each item and who will receive it. You must sign and date the list, and your will must refer to a document that lists tangible personal property not devised in the will. You can update the list without executing a new will, and you can create the list after your will is executed.

A will lets you decide who will receive your money and property. You can devise assets of varying sizes and values to people or entities such as charities. For example, after you ensure your family will be provided for in your will, you could devise a large sum of money to charity and sentimental items to close friends.

You also can use your will to disinherit someone, such as an estranged relative. However, you should ask a Wisconsin estate planning attorney for legal advice if you want to disinherit a spouse or child. Disinheriting a spouse or a child is difficult, and almost always leads to a lawsuit.

Your personal representative should be someone you trust. They also should be responsible with money and comfortable dealing with attorneys and accountants. When making your will, choose one or more successor personal representatives to step in and serve if your first choice is unavailable or unwilling to serve.

Your personal representative will manage your estate during probate. They will have many duties. You should speak with them before you name them in your will to ensure they are willing to serve. Some of a personal representative’s duties are:

• Collect, inventory, and care for your assets
• Paying your estate’s debts and taxes
• Distributing assets to your beneficiaries
• Notifying your creditors

Your personal representative will pay your taxes and debts with your assets and will not be personally liable for any debts of your estate. They also can use your estate’s funds to hire attorneys and accountants to assist with probate and taxes.

In Wisconsin, you can use your will to name two different guardians for your minor child: the guardian of the person and the guardian of the estate. The guardian of the person will raise your child and make decisions about their education, health care, and general welfare. They should be willing to raise your child in line with your values.

The guardian of the estate will manage all assets your child receives through probate. If you establish a trust, the trustee of the trust will manage all assets placed in the trust for your child’s benefit. Like a personal representative, the guardian of the estate should be someone you trust to make intelligent financial decisions for your child.

After you fill out your form, you must comply with Wisconsin’s requirements for executing a will. You must sign it or direct another person in your presence to sign your name for you. You also need two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries to sign your will.

A notary public is not required, but it is advisable to use one to make a self-proved will. A self-proved will can be admitted to probate without your witnesses’ testimony. To make a self-proved will, you and your witnesses must sign a self-proving affidavit and have it notarized.

Your executed will with original signatures is your one true will, unless you revoke it later. Sometimes, a court will accept a copy of a will, but it is difficult to convince a court to accept a copy. If you want to ensure a court will follow your wishes, you must keep your original will safe.

Common places to store a will are:

• A safe place in your home
• Your lawyer’s office
• A safe deposit box at a bank
• The probate court where you live

Let your personal representative and trusted friends or family members know where your will is stored. This will allow the probate process to start without delay.

As time goes by, the size of your family and net worth can change. When your life changes, review your will to make sure it does not need changes. If you do not have any major life events, you still should review your will every few years to ensure it still meets your goals. If you have a major life change or want to amend your will, a Wisconsin estate planning attorney can help you.