Minnesota Will Signing Day Kit: Minnesota's Witness and Notary Rules, Signing-Day Checklist, Witness Sheet and Original-Will Record

Who it is for

Anyone signing a will in Minnesota, and the family member, friend or office helping set up the signing. Who can make a will, per the official page: 18 or older, of sound mind.

Not the right fit if

The person signing isn't in Minnesota, you still need the will written (that's a lawyer's job), or someone may contest it. Not a will form or a legal service.

Why it is different

• Built only from our Minnesota will signing data file, checked November 2026 against Minn. Stat. 524.2-502, Execution; witnessed wills (Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, 2025); Minn. Stat. 524.2-501, Who may make a will (Minnesota Statutes 2026, Office of the Revisor of Statutes); Minn. Stat. 524.2-504, Self-proved will (Minnesota Statutes 2026, Office of the Revisor of Statutes); Minn. Stat. 524.2-505, Who may witness (Minnesota Statutes 2026, Office of the Revisor of Statutes); Minnesota Laws 2023, chapter 21 (H.F. 244), Uniform Electronic Wills Act (Minnesota Revisor of Statutes); Minn. Stat. 524.2-518, Certification of paper copy (Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, 2025); Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Minnesota (Nolo).
• All 7 Minnesota facts are confirmed: on an official page, or where none could be read, on a vetted secondary source marked as such.
• Sources: https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.2-502/pdf https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.2-501/pdf https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.2-504/pdf https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.2-505/pdf https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/21/2023-08-07%2011:20:06+00:00/pdf https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/2025/cite/524.2-518 https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/minnesota-make-will-32074.html
• For the estate side in Minnesota, the Minnesota Executor and Estate Kit: The whole probate estate, wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, $75,000 or less at the date of death. The court's instructions (PRO201) require that there's no real property in the probate estate; land and buildings go through probate court.

What is inside

• Start here. The 7 confirmed Minnesota facts at a glance.
• Minnesota signing-day checklist. Bring 2 witnesses. The rule: Two witnesses, each signing within a reasonable time after seeing the signing or the acknowledgment. Pick witnesses who get nothing under the will and aren't married to someone who does. Have a notary or another officer who can administer oaths there for the self-proving affidavit. The statute names that officer rather than notaries by name. Allowed at signing or any time later. The testator and witnesses sign in the presence of an officer authorized to administer oaths. If no notary is available on the day, the affidavit can be added later, while the witnesses can still be reached. The rule here: A will, or any part of it, isn't invalid because an interested witness signed it. The testator signs (or acknowledges the signature) while the witnesses watch, then each witness signs. Remote witnessing: For the will execution sections (524.2-501 to 524.
• Witness information sheet. One block per Minnesota witness (2 required, plus a spare).
• Original-will storage and location record. Where the original is and who has copies. Handwritten wills in Minnesota: Not recognized: a handwritten will needs witnesses like any other will, per Nolo's Minnesota page, though a will validly made in another state is recognized.
• Minnesota will signing tracker (Excel). Steps, ID, copies and review dates. Remote witnessing in Minnesota: For the will execution sections (524.2-501 to 524.2-517), presence includes being present by an electronic device or process that lets the person see and hear the testator. Electronic wills: Authorized. The 2023 law adopting the Uniform Electronic Wills Act brings electronic wills into the definition of a will, and a certified paper copy can stand in for the original.