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will-execution-requirements-by-state

also_reported listlengths 1 1 ⌀	derived_fields listlengths 1 1	disagreements listlengths 0 0 ⌀	id stringlengths 4 12	source stringlengths 44 112	source_quote stringlengths 105 708	state stringlengths 4 12	statute_citation stringlengths 13 38	url stringlengths 70 78	verified_fields listlengths 2 5	witnesses_required stringlengths 32 309	holographic_wills stringclasses 6 values	notarization_rule stringclasses 2 values	electronic_wills stringclasses 1 value	self_proving_affidavit stringclasses 1 value
[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "holographic_wills", "source": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PROB&sectionNum=6111", "source_quote": "(a) A will that does not comply with Section 6110 is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, i...	[ "statute_citation" ]	[]	california	https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PROB&sectionNum=6110	(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the will shall be witnessed by being signed, during the testator’s lifetime, by at least two persons each of whom (A) being present at the same time, witnessed either the signing of the will or the testator’s acknowledgment of the signature or of the will and (B) understand ...	California	Cal. Prob. Code § 6110	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/california/	[ "state", "witnesses_required" ]	witnessed by being signed, during the testator’s lifetime, by at least two persons each of whom (A) being present at the same time, witnessed either the signing of the will or the testator’s acknowledgment of the signature or of the will and (B) understand that the instrument they sign is the testator’s will	null	null	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	colorado	https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-15-probate-trusts-and-fiduciaries/co-rev-st-sect-15-11-502/	(I) Signed by at least two individuals, either prior to or after the testator's death, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after he or she witnessed either the testator's signing of the will as described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (1) or the testator's acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgmen...	Colorado	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 15-11-502	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/colorado/	[ "holographic_wills", "notarization_rule", "state", "witnesses_required" ]	Signed by at least two individuals, either prior to or after the testator's death	A will that does not comply with subsection (1) of this section is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if the signature and material portions of the document are in the testator's handwriting.	Acknowledged by the testator before a notary public or other individual authorized by law to take acknowledgments	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	florida	http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0732/Sections/0732.502.html	Witnesses. — The testator’s: 1.  Signing, or 2.  Acknowledgment: a.  That he or she has previously signed the will, or b.  That another person has subscribed the testator’s name to it, must be in the presence of at least two attesting witnesses. (c)  Witnesses’ signatures. &#x2...	Florida	Fla. Stat. § 732.502	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/florida/	[ "holographic_wills", "state", "witnesses_required" ]	at least two attesting witnesses	Any will, other than a holographic or nuncupative will, executed by a nonresident of Florida, either before or after this law takes effect, is valid as a will in this state if valid under the laws of the state or country where the will was executed. A will in the testator’s handwriting that has been executed in accorda...	null	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	illinois	https://codes.findlaw.com/il/chapter-755-estates/il-st-sect-755-5-4-3/	Every will shall be in writing, signed by the testator or by some person in his presence and by his direction and attested in the presence of the testator by 2 or more credible witnesses.	Illinois	755 ILCS 5/4-3	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/illinois/	[ "state", "witnesses_required" ]	attested in the presence of the testator by 2 or more credible witnesses	null	null	null	null
[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "holographic_wills", "source": "https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=108900", "source_quote": "An olographic testament is one entirely written, dated, and signed in the handwriting of the testator. The olographic testament is subject to no other requir...	[ "statute_citation" ]	[]	louisiana	https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=108901	The notarial testament shall be prepared in writing, dated, executed before a notary public in the presence of two witnesses, and signed by the testator, each witness, and the notary.	Louisiana	La. Civ. Code art. 1576	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/louisiana/	[ "notarization_rule", "state", "witnesses_required" ]	executed before a notary public in the presence of two witnesses, and signed by the testator, each witness, and the notary	null	executed before a notary public in the presence of two witnesses	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	minnesota	https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.2-502	signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing of the will as described in clause (2) or the testator's acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will.	Minnesota	Minn. Stat. § 524.2-502	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/minnesota/	[ "state", "witnesses_required" ]	signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing of the will	null	null	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	nevada	https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-133.html	No will executed in this State, except such electronic wills or holographic wills as are mentioned in this chapter, is valid unless it is in writing and signed by the testator, or by an attending person at the testator�s express direction, and attested by at least two competent witnesses who subscribe their names to th...	Nevada	NRS 133.040, 133.050, 133.085, 133.090	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/nevada/	[ "electronic_wills", "holographic_wills", "self_proving_affidavit", "state", "witnesses_required" ]	attested by at least two competent witnesses who subscribe their names to the will in the presence of the testator	A holographic will is a will in which the signature, date and material provisions are written by the hand of the testator, whether or not it is witnessed or notarized.	null	Every person of sound mind over the age of 18 years may, by last electronic will, dispose of all of his or her estate, real and personal	Any attesting witness to a will, including, without limitation, an electronic will, may sign a declaration under penalty of perjury or an affidavit before any person authorized to administer oaths in or out of the State, stating such facts as the witness would be required to testify to in court to prove the will.
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	north-dakota	https://codes.findlaw.com/nd/title-30-1-uniform-probate-code/nd-cent-code-sect-30-1-08-02/	(1) By at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing of the will as described in subdivision b or the testator's acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will; or (2) Acknowledged by the testator before a notary public or other individual aut...	North Dakota	N.D. Cent. Code § 30.1-08-02	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/north-dakota/	[ "holographic_wills", "notarization_rule", "state", "witnesses_required" ]	By at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after witnessing either the signing of the will	A will that does not comply with subsection 1 is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if the signature and material portions of the document are in the testator's handwriting.	Acknowledged by the testator before a notary public or other individual authorized by law to take acknowledgments	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	ohio	https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2107.03	Except oral wills, every will shall be in writing, but may be handwritten or typewritten. The will shall be signed at the end by the testator or by some other person in the testator's conscious presence and at the testator's express direction. The will shall be attested and subscribed in the conscious presence of the t...	Ohio	Ohio Rev. Code § 2107.03	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/ohio/	[ "holographic_wills", "state", "witnesses_required" ]	attested and subscribed in the conscious presence of the testator, by two or more competent witnesses, who saw the testator subscribe, or heard the testator acknowledge the testator's signature	a will may be handwritten or typewritten, but every will shall be attested and subscribed in the conscious presence of the testator by two or more competent witnesses; no unwitnessed exception is stated in this section	null	null	null
[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "holographic_wills", "source": "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/estates-code/est-sect-251-052/", "source_quote": "a will written wholly in the testator's handwriting is not required to be attested by subscribing witnesses.", "value": "a will written wholly...	[ "statute_citation" ]	[]	texas	https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/estates-code/est-sect-251-051/	attested by two or more credible witnesses who are at least 14 years of age and who subscribe their names to the will in their own handwriting in the testator's presence.	Texas	Tex. Est. Code § 251.051	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/texas/	[ "state", "witnesses_required" ]	attested by two or more credible witnesses who are at least 14 years of age	null	null	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	virginia	https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title64.2/section64.2-403/	A will not wholly in the testator's handwriting is not valid unless the signature of the testator is made, or the will is acknowledged by the testator, in the presence of at least two competent witnesses who are present at the same time and who subscribe the will in the presence of the testator.	Virginia	Va. Code § 64.2-403	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/virginia/	[ "holographic_wills", "state", "witnesses_required" ]	in the presence of at least two competent witnesses who are present at the same time and who subscribe the will in the presence of the testator	A will wholly in the testator's handwriting is valid without further requirements, provided that the fact that a will is wholly in the testator's handwriting and signed by the testator is proved by at least two disinterested witnesses.	null	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	washington	https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.12.020	every will shall be in writing signed by the testator or by some other person under the testator's direction in the testator's presence or electronic presence, and shall be attested by two or more competent witnesses, by subscribing their names to the will	Washington	RCW 11.12.020	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/washington/	[ "state", "witnesses_required" ]	attested by two or more competent witnesses, by subscribing their names to the will	null	null	null	null
null	[ "statute_citation" ]	null	wisconsin	https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/853.03	It must be signed by at least 2 witnesses who signed within a reasonable time after any of the following:	Wisconsin	Wis. Stat. § 853.03	https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/wisconsin/	[ "state", "witnesses_required" ]	signed by at least 2 witnesses who signed within a reasonable time	null	null	null	null

Will execution requirements by state: witnesses, notarization, holographic and electronic wills

Canonical, always-current version: https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/ Machine-readable: https://referencesource.org/will-execution-requirements-by-state/data.json — this mirror is a point-in-time copy.

Last verified: 2026-08-18
Stale after: 2028-02-09 (past this date, prefer the canonical copy — it re-verifies on a cadence this snapshot does not)
Records: 13

What each US state's probate/estates code requires for a will to be validly executed: how many witnesses, whether they must sign in the testator's presence, whether notarization can substitute for witnesses, whether holographic (handwritten, unwitnessed) wills are valid, whether electronic wills are authorized, and whether a self-proving affidavit is available. Each record is one state, from that state's statute. Answers 'how many witnesses does a will need in [state]', 'is a handwritten will valid in [state]', and 'does a will need to be notarized in [state]'. The general answer (two witnesses, no notary) is right in most states and wrong in the ones that matter: holographic wills are valid in roughly half of states and void in the rest, Colorado and North Dakota allow notarization instead of witnesses, Louisiana requires a notary plus two witnesses, and a growing list (Nevada, Florida, Arizona, Indiana...) authorizes electronic wills. People executing DIY wills hit exactly these edges. Existing charts are will-vendor marketing (Gentreo, estate-bee) with no statute citations.

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