Need some tips on writing your will? The U.S. government has some advice on the steps you can take to ensure that your assets are properly handled after your death. Here are some rules to remember:

• In most states, you must be 18 years of age or older.

• A will must be written in sound judgment and mental capacity to be valid.

• The document must clearly state that it is your will.

• An executor of your will, who ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes, must be named.

• It is not necessary to notarize or record your will but these can safeguard against any claims that your will is invalid. To be valid, you must sign a will in the presence of at least two witnesses.

For more on the importance of living wills, click here.