North Dakota Estate Planning
Get your own affairs in order in North Dakota, for yourself or an aging parent. Compare the documents most adults need (a will, a power of attorney, and a healthcare directive), decide whether you need a trust, and see how to keep your estate out of probate.
Which document do I need?
The core documents at a glance. Each row links to its North Dakota guide.
- Will
- North Dakota will requirements: a signed writing plus two witnesses or a notary. Handwritten wills count, and so do electronic wills. Read the guide
- Living trust
- A North Dakota revocable living trust under NDCC 59-14-02: how to create and fund one, the pour-over will, the contest deadline, and its limits. Read the guide
- Power of attorney
- A North Dakota power of attorney ends at incapacity unless it carries durability words, and a broad grant lets your agent make gifts in any amount. Read the guide
- Healthcare directive
- A North Dakota health care directive names a health care agent, gives instructions, or both, and needs a notary or two qualified adult witnesses. Read the guide
Planning to prepare the will with an online service? See what North Dakota requires from an online will before you sign anything.
North Dakota estate planning guides
North Dakota Estate Planning Basics
North Dakota estate planning uses four documents: a will, a power of attorney with durability words, a health care directive, and an optional trust.
North Dakota Will Requirements
North Dakota will requirements: a signed writing plus two witnesses or a notary. Handwritten wills count, and so do electronic wills.
North Dakota Power of Attorney
A North Dakota power of attorney ends at incapacity unless it carries durability words, and a broad grant lets your agent make gifts in any amount.
North Dakota Health Care Directive
A North Dakota health care directive names a health care agent, gives instructions, or both, and needs a notary or two qualified adult witnesses.
North Dakota Guardianship Planning
How North Dakota guardianship and conservatorship work under NDCC 30.1-28 and 30.1-29, and the documents that can avoid a case.
North Dakota Revocable Living Trust
A North Dakota revocable living trust under NDCC 59-14-02: how to create and fund one, the pour-over will, the contest deadline, and its limits.
North Dakota Trust Administration
North Dakota trust administration under the Uniform Trust Code: 60-day notices, annual reports, creditor exposure and final distribution.
North Dakota Transfer on Death Deed
A North Dakota transfer on death deed passes land at death under NDCC 30.1-32.1. Put TOD in the title and record it before death, or it fails.
North Dakota Pet Trusts
A North Dakota pet trust under NDCC 59-12-08 lasts for your animal's life, and a person you name, or one the court appoints, can enforce it.
North Dakota Digital Assets After Death
North Dakota's digital assets law puts a provider's online tool above your will. Email content needs consent or a court order.
Not sure what you need in North Dakota?
Answer a few questions and we'll tell you which estate planning documents to set up first.
Information current as of 2026-06-18
Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in your state can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
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