Consumer Links
Minnesota Attorney General's Office
1400 Bremer Tower
445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 296-3353
(800) 657-3787
M - F 8 am - 5 pm
TTY:(651) 297-7206
TTY:(800) 366-4812
Probate and Planning (PDF)
Table of Contents:
- What is a will?
- Does everyone need a will?
- What rules apply to wills?
- What is a self-proved will?
- What is in a will?
- Can I leave my spouse or my children out of my will?
- What is a personal representative?
- What is a guardian?
- How do I prepare a will?
- How do I change or update a will?
- Where do I keep a will?
- What is probate?
- When is probate necessary?
- What items are not subject to probate?
- How do I probate an estate?
- How will the estate be distributed to heirs?
- What taxes must be paid?
- What is a trust?
- What are the basic types of trusts?
- What are the pros and cons of a revocable living trust?
- How do I establish a trust?
- What is the role of the trustee?
- What is guardianship and conservatorship?
- What is the difference between a conservatorship and a guardianship?
- What are the duties of a guardian?
- What are the duties of a conservator?
- Does a guardian or conservator have absolute power and authority?
- Why might I need a conservator or guardian?
- How do I establish a conservatorship?
- What are the advantages of a conservatorship?
- What are the disadvantages of a conservatorship?
- What are the alternatives to a conservatorship or guardianship?
- What is a power of attorney?
- What is a durable power of attorney?
- When should I use a power of attorney?
- How much power does a power of attorney have?
- How do I create a power of attorney?
- What happens if I don't have a durable power of attorney for finances?
- When does a power of attorney end?
- What is a health care directive?
- What might I need a health care directive for?
- How do I prepare a health care directive?
- What should I include in my health care directive?
- What are the limits on my health care directive?
- How do I change my health care directive?
- How should I plan my funeral?
- How should I pay for my funeral?
- What safeguards exist for consumers who pay in advance?
Sample Forms