Source: https://willing.com/minnesota-last-will-testament
Timestamp: 2019-01-16 02:41:08
Document Index: 268118945

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 524', '§ 524', '§ 524', '§ 524', '§ 524', '§ 524', '§ 524']

Minnesota Last Will & Testament - Write Your Legal Will - Willing
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The legal requirements for making a will in Minnesota can be found in Minn. Stat. § 524.2-501. See below for the basics.
Making a Will in Minnesota
Minnesota Will Requirements
To make a valid will in Minnesota, certain legal requirements must be met. There are requirements for both the person making the will (called a “testator”), and for the will itself.
Any person 18 or more years of age who is of sound mind may make a will. Minn. Stat. § 524.2-501.
Regarding the will itself, the standard requirements are set forth in Minn. Stat. § 524.2-502.
A will must be:
(2) signed by the testator or in the testator’s name by some other individual in the testator’s conscious presence and by the testator’s direction . . . and
(3) signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing of the will as described in clause (2) or the testator’s acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will.
Although there are various exceptions and special rules, these are the standard requirements for Minnesota wills.
You should definitely have your will notarized. Under Minnesota law, a will that meets certain requirements — including proper notarization — is “self proved”. Minn. Stat. § 524.2-504. A self proved will can be admitted to probate court without the testimony of the witnesses to the will. (When a will that isn’t self proved is submitted to the probate court, the court will require testimony from witnesses, or other proof, to establish that the will is what it claims to be.)
How does it work? To make a will self-proved in Minnesota, the testator and witnesses must sign a “self proving affidavit” before a notary public. An affidavit is a sworn statement, and a notary public is an officer of the court. Therefore, an affidavit before a notary public is like making a statement in court. So, when an affidavit states that the will was properly executed, it’s as good as in-court testimony, and the witnesses don’t need to show up when it’s time for the will to be admitted to court. Minn. Stat. § 524.2-504.
Do I need an attorney to make a will in Minnesota?
No. An attorney is not required to make a will in Minnesota. For the vast majority of people, an attorney will simply do the same things that a good will-making software does — ask you questions and then create documents for you based on your information and wishes. However, in certain situations it is a good idea seek legal advice from an attorney, like if you have a child with special needs, or if you have a high net worth (around $10 million) and are concerned about federal estate taxes. In these cases, an attorney can help you navigate special questions and create a proper plan.
Minnesota law handles old wills in two ways. First, if you have an old will in place, you can cancel it by creating a new one. A good will usually contains a statement that it revokes (cancels) any prior wills. Second, a will can be cancelled simply by physically destroying it. Minn. Stat. § 524.2-507.
Under Minnesota law, a will must be filed with the court with reasonable promptness after the death of the testator. Minn. Stat. § 524.2-516. So, after you pass away, your will should be filed in your local probate court by the person named to be your personal representative (also called an “executor” or “administrator”). This will begin the legal process known as “probate” through which your wishes are carried out under court supervision.