Writing a will can be a challenging process. While some organizations provide general information about writing a will under AIPRA, many owners of interests in allotted lands held in trust may want to consult with an attorney who is experienced in federal Indian law generally and who is familiar with AIPRA’s requirements for writing a valid will. While the American Indian Law Clinic is unable to help American Indians to write wills, there are a few resources on this page that may help land owners.
There are several questions that land owners can ask to find out if an attorney has the right kinds of experience to assist him or her with writing a will. Some organizations, such as Dakota Plains Legal Services, currently assist trust land owners to plan for probate, will writing and trust land management. Other organizations, like the Indian Estate Planning Project, have created template wills for land owners interested in writing a will. For more information from these organizations, see the Resources page for their web sites.
Below are two links which also may help land owners in this inquiry. The first is a series of questions to ask an attorney before retaining him or her to help with an AIPRA will. The other is a list of attorneys and legal offices in Colorado who may be able to help with writing a will.