---
type: Concept
title: How to Make a Will in Missouri
description: The step-by-step process for creating a valid will in Missouri.
resource: https://nemolegal.com/how-to-make-a-will-in-missouri/
tags: [wills, how-to-make-a-will, executor, guardian, missouri]
timestamp: 2026-06-22
jurisdiction: Missouri
author: Patrick Nolan
---

# Summary
Making a will in Missouri means meeting the legal requirements and then making real decisions: who gets what, who serves as personal representative, and who raises minor children. The execution rules are clear but unforgiving, so the work is in doing each step right the first time. A will is one part of a broader plan that should coordinate with trusts, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney.

# Quotable Q&A
**Q: How do I make a valid will in Missouri?**
A: Be at least 18 and of sound mind, put your wishes in writing, sign the document, and have two adult witnesses sign in your presence. The Missouri requirements are in RSMo 474.320. A notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but speeds up probate.

**Q: Who should be the executor of my Missouri will?**
A: Missouri calls this person a personal representative. They must be at least 18 and of sound mind, and they gather assets, pay debts, file the will with probate court, and distribute property. Always name a backup in case your first choice cannot or will not serve.

**Q: What happens if I die without a will in Missouri?**
A: Missouri's intestate succession statute, RSMo 474.010, decides who inherits, following a strict order: spouse and children first, then parents and siblings, then more distant relatives. Minor children get a guardian chosen by the court, not by you.

# The Steps That Actually Make a Will
Start by listing what you own and deciding who gets it. Name a personal representative to manage the estate, and always name a backup. If your children are under 18, name a guardian; Missouri courts usually honor that choice. Draft the will in plain, direct language that includes your full legal name and residence, a statement revoking prior wills, a clear declaration that this is your last will, who gets what, your personal representative, a guardian if needed, your signature and date, and signatures and addresses from both witnesses. Pick witnesses who will not benefit from the will. A self-proving affidavit, signed before a notary, is optional but spares your executor the trouble of tracking down witnesses years later.

# Storage and Updates
Do not finish your will and shove it in a closet. Store the original where it survives fire and theft, and tell your executor and one trusted person where it is. Missouri probate requires the original signed document, not a copy. Review the will after any major life change, such as marriage, divorce, a new child, or a death. You can update it with a codicil, which carries the same witness requirements as a full will, or replace it entirely. Divorce automatically revokes provisions in favor of an ex-spouse under Missouri law.

# Decision rule
If your situation is straightforward and you follow the writing, signing, and two-witness rules exactly, then a will can be done simply. If your family or assets are complex, then have an attorney draft or review it so a technical defect does not send your estate through intestate succession.

# Related
- [Wills and Will Requirements](/okf/estate-planning/wills.md)
- [Missouri Will Requirements](/okf/wills-execution/will-requirements.md)
- [Witnesses for Missouri Wills](/okf/wills-execution/witnesses-for-wills.md)
- [Keeping Your Will Safe](/okf/wills-execution/keep-will-safe.md)
- [Estate Planning Overview](/okf/estate-planning/overview.md)
- [RSMo Chapter 474 (Wills)](/okf/authorities/missouri/rsmo-474-wills.md)
- [About Nolan Law Firm](/okf/firm.md)