Estate attorneys and financial planners can assist clients in creating legal wills that are valid in the eyes of the probate court. Often, a will is still considered legally binding even if a person moves to a new state. This is because inheritance laws are somewhat similar across most of the U.S. However, it is always important to review a will any time there is a substantial change in circumstances just to be sure. A divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, the purchase of real estate, and the death of a previously named beneficiary are all good reasons to update a will. The newest version of a will should specifically revokes all prior versions so that it will be viewed as the legally enforceable version in probate court.

Online will forms are also available. These are useful for individuals who own limited assets and want a fast, easy way to determine who receives personal effects. If an attorney does assist in making a will, he/she should not be one of the witnesses who signs it. Legal wills do not require notarization, but this extra step is permitted in some states to authenticate the document without the need to locate the witnesses during probate. A will is not legally enforceable until the testator's death.