A will is a legal document that you write to give instructions about how your property should pass to your survivors after your death. To be valid, it must be a written document and signed by you according to the law of your state. Your will should describe your property, and specify the amount or share that passes to each beneficiary. If you have minor children, a will is also the means by which to name your choice of a guardian for your children. A will also names a person, called the personal representative or executor, who is responsible for paying the bills you owe at your death and carrying out the instructions in your will.
Most people name a close relative or friend as their personal representative.
A will is not final until you die. Until that time, a will has no legal significance and can be altered, amended or revoked. If you amend your will, you use either a codicil or a new will. Probate is the process by which the assets of your estate will be inventoried and accounted for, your debts and taxes paid, and the remainder of your assets are passed along to your beneficiaries and titled in their names. The probate process can take as few as eight months or as long as several years if complications arise.