If you’re like most people, writing a will feels like staring down the end of your life. Try asking a different question: If something happened to me, how could I keep my family from stressing while they grieve?

In a 2025 survey, only 24% of U.S. adults said they have a will, and 43% of those without one said they simply haven’t gotten around to it.¹ Can you relate? It’s easy to put off—but without a will, state law may make decisions for you that you would rather make for yourself. With a will in place, your family is less likely to deal with the stress (and expense) of fighting in court over your stuff.

To make a will, list what you own, decide who gets what, name an executor and guardians, then sign it in front of witnesses who won’t inherit from your will. For most people, the easiest way is to get an online will from a RamseyTrusted provider.

Let’s talk about what a will is, the steps you’ll take to make one, and your options for getting it done.

What Is a Will?

A will is a legal document that answers the question, “What do you want to happen when you die?”

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Your will lays out things like:

• Who you’d like to get your money and property
• Who should become the guardian of your kids or pets
• Who gets to be the executor to manage your estate when you’re gone

There are many different types of wills, but a simple will is enough for most people. Want the full breakdown? Read our guide on what a will is.

Do You Need to Have Everything Figured Out Before You Make a Will?

No, you don’t need to have it all figured out before making a will. You can start with a few rough ideas and fill in the rest as you go. A good online will maker can walk you through each decision as you go.

As you get ready to make your will, it helps to have a general sense of who you would want to receive your things (heirs), who you’d trust to carry out your wishes (executor), and who would raise your kids if they’re minors (guardian). Those are the exact questions you’ll work through next.

How Do You Make a Will, Step by Step?

There are seven steps to making a will: list what you own, decide who gets what, choose an executor, name guardians, choose how to create it, sign it with witnesses, and store it.

1. Make a quick list of what you own.

Start by thinking about the big things in your life: your home, car, savings accounts and retirement accounts. Then think about the smaller things that still carry a lot of meaning—like the Friends DVD collection that reminds you of nights spent binge-watching with your kids. You could even leave a note saying, “I know you can stream it, but these have bonus content.”

Just make a simple list of what you own and anything you’d want to go to a specific person. That’s your estate—a legal term for everything you own. Our estate planning checklist walks you through it.

2. Decide who gets what.

Think about any special connections to your property that your spouse, your kids and your extended family might have. Maybe you worked on an old fixer-upper house with your son, or your niece always loved a certain necklace. Get generous. And get specific about who gets (or takes care of) what.

Quick note: Money from things like life insurance policies, investment accounts and trusts goes to beneficiaries—people or organizations you name when you open the account or buy the policy. And this is important: Your will doesn’t cancel out those beneficiary selections.

So take a few minutes to check your older policies and accounts too. You wouldn’t want a $500,000 policy you bought before you got married to still list your brother instead of your spouse.

Deciding who gets what is the meaningful part. It’s your chance to decide how you want to care for the people you love and how they’ll remember you.

3. Choose an executor.

The executor is the person you appoint to carry out your wishes. They’ll be responsible for paying your debts from your estate, selling property if needed, delivering your gifts to your heirs, and reporting to the probate court so your estate can be settled and closed.

Your executor should be a level-headed, ethical and responsible person you trust—someone who isn’t intimidated by strong-willed family members! You may want to choose one of your adult children, a family friend or an attorney to take on the job. Name a backup, too, in case your first choice can’t or won’t serve.

4. Name guardians for your children.

If you have children who are minors, your will is where you name the person you trust to raise them if something happens to you.

And yes, this is hard to think about. But if you don’t name a guardian, a court may have to decide who will care for your kids.

“I have three kids and I couldn’t imagine the state deciding who takes care of them! Don’t leave a decision like that in the hands of anyone but you.” —Rachel Cruze

No one knows your children, your values or your family dynamics better than you do.

Choose someone you trust, then make sure they’re both able and willing before you name them.

5. Choose how to create your will.

For most people the best approach is to create your will online.

You have three options: Make your will online (best for most), use a do-it-yourself template (we don’t recommend it), or hire an attorney (if your situation is complex). We’ll talk more later about how to decide between an online will maker or an attorney, but spoiler . . . you’re probably good to go online.

6. Sign your will in front of witnesses.

A typed or printed will generally isn’t valid unless you (yep, that’s you) sign it and two witnesses sign it too. Check your own state’s rules before you sign.

Choose at least two adult witnesses who won’t inherit from your will. In some states, a witness who inherits can lose their gift, and it gives a challenger an opening.² If your will is ever challenged, the witness could be called to appear in court to confirm three things:

• They saw you sign your will.
• No one forced you to sign it.
• You were of sound mind when you signed it (as in, you understood what property you owned, who your heirs were, and that what you were signing was your will).

One way for your witnesses to avoid a trip to court is by making a self-proving affidavit. Wait, self-proving what? It’s just a notarized document that confirms the three points mentioned above. If you choose to do this, make sure you don’t sign the will until you’re in front of both your witnesses and the notary.

7. Store your will and tell your executor where it is.

Make sure your executor knows exactly where your will is kept. And it’s a good idea to alert everyone involved and included in your will ahead of time.

We recommend you put together a legacy drawer to store your will and other important documents. This can be a waterproof and fireproof file box or folder that holds the documents your family would need if something happened to you.

If you also keep digital copies, remember you must keep the original signed copy of your will because most courts require the original to be filed when the estate process starts. In California, for example, whoever holds your will must deliver it to the court within 30 days after learning of your death.

What Makes a Will Legally Valid?

In most states, a will is valid when you’re 18 or older and of sound mind, you put it in writing, you sign it, and the required witnesses watch you sign and sign it too. Get any one wrong, and your will can be thrown out and your estate handled under your state’s intestacy laws, as if you never wrote one.

You should research requirements for your state, but we broke down all the details for wills in California and Florida as examples of what to look for.

Should You Make a Will Online or With an Attorney?

If your situation is simple, make your will online. If it’s complicated, hire an attorney.

Online will. Making a will online is the easiest and most affordable option we recommend for protecting your loved ones when you’re gone. A RamseyTrusted online will maker also gives you the chance to set up your durable powers of attorney, like a financial power of attorney and medical power of attorney, at the same time you write your will.

DIY will. Free templates, kits, and software aren’t tailored to your state, so one mistake can get your will thrown out. We’ll say it again since it matters: Don’t go this route. But if you’re looking for instructions on how to make a will without a lawyer, we’ve got you covered.

Attorney. Most people won’t have an estate large or complex enough to require an attorney’s help to make a will. In terms of size, unless yours is over $15 million (or above your state’s estate tax limit)—and congratulations if it is!—you’re safe making your will online. But you might also need an attorney’s help if you’re dealing with trusts, overseas assets, special-needs children, or a plan to disinherit a spouse or child.

When Should You Update Your Will?

Update your will when you get married, have or adopt a child, go through a divorce, move to another state, or buy or sell a major asset. And get in the habit of reading back over it every few years to be sure it still matches your current situation and desires.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Estate-planning laws vary by state, so consider speaking with a qualified attorney about your specific situation.