To write a valid will in the state of Maryland you need to quite a few things. Here’s a discussion of what most people require when they draft their will.
What You Need in Your Will
They’ll need to write people’s full names clearly. You don’t want the person who administers your will to make a mistake and give assets to the wrong person.
You’ll want to pick people to be in it who will inherit or administer. You need a personal representative (sometimes known as an executor in other states), and you may need a Guardian if you have minor children. Make sure to name successors in case the people you chose aren’t able to fulfill their roles.
You may also wish to put in a trust to control money given to your children. This should only be done with the help of a lawyer. Trusts can be overwhelmingly complex.
I also suggest following a template. Make sure it is a template that is state specific if possible.
Finally, when you’re done, you need to store the document in a safe place. Keep it away from water and fire. I recommend a safe deposit box. Give keys to people you trust.
A wills lawyer in Columbia MD and Ellicott City (like me!) can easily help you. While it’s perfectly legal to write your own, many people who attempt to do it sign it incorrectly. The Register of Wills will not accept improperly signed wills in many cases. At that point the decedent is viewed as having died without one. Not a good outcome.
And there’s nothing wrong with bringing your own in for viewing to an attorney. Most attorneys, including myself will probably rewrite the entire document. My policy is to charge at a reduced rate that is acceptable to all parties however.