Anyone making a will in North Dakota or Minnesota needs, at the very least, to ensure that their document contains all that is required by state law. In general, you must print your will, sign it, and have it signed by two witnesses.
Apart from those basic requirements, however, there are additional clauses or pieces a will needs to contain that are not specifically addressed by state will laws. Your lawyer will be able to tell you what your will needs to include, but here are some commonly used clauses.
Estate Management
Your will needs to choose someone to manage your estate. The person you appoint to this position is generally known as your executor. While your representative can be either an individual or an organization, you must choose someone to represent your estate in probate. It is also typically good idea to select one or two replacements in the event your original choice can no longer serve.
Revocation
Your will should make it clear to a probate court that it represents your final wishes. Whether you have made a previous will or not, one of the first clauses in your will should state that all previous wills and codicils are revoked. This clause will avoid needless complications once the will is probated.
Trustee
If you use your will to create a testamentary trust you also need to ensure that you name a trustee who will manage the trust property on behalf of minor children who cannot legally own it yet.
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