Will Requirements by State
Every state has its own rules about what makes a will legally valid — from how many witnesses you need, to whether your will must be notarized, to whether a handwritten will counts. Below you'll find a guide for each of the 50 US states and Washington DC.
Louisiana is the only U.S. state that requires a will to be notarized to be legally valid (La. C.C. art. 1577 — notarial testament). Every other state lets you make a valid will with witnesses alone.
48 states offer an optional self-proving affidavit — a separate notarized statement attached to the will. It's not required for the will to be valid, but it speeds up probate by removing the need to call witnesses to testify.
Most-Searched State Guides
The four state guides readers reach for most often. Each one covers witness rules, notarization, holographic wills, and signing steps in full detail.
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Quick Comparison
Key requirements at a glance across all jurisdictions.
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| State | Min Age | Witnesses | Notary Required | Holographic | E-Wills | Self-Proving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Alaska | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arizona | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| California | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Colorado | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connecticut | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Delaware | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| District of Columbia | 18 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Florida | 18 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Georgia | 14 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hawaii | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Idaho | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Illinois | 18 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | 18 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Kansas | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Kentucky | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Louisiana | 16 | 2 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Maine | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Maryland | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Massachusetts | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Michigan | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Minnesota | 18 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Missouri | 18 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Montana | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nebraska | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nevada | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| New Jersey | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New Mexico | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| New York | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| North Carolina | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| North Dakota | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ohio | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | No |
| Oklahoma | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Oregon | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 0 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rhode Island | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| South Carolina | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| South Dakota | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Tennessee | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Texas | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Utah | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vermont | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Virginia | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Washington | 18 | 2 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| West Virginia | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wisconsin | 18 | 2 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Wyoming | 18 | 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Common Questions
What states require a will to be notarized?
Louisiana is the only U.S. state that requires a notarial testament to be executed before a notary and two witnesses (La. C.C. art. 1577). Every other state lets you make a valid will with witnesses alone. However, 48 states offer an optional self-proving affidavit — a separate notarized statement attached to the will — which speeds up probate by removing the need to call witnesses to testify.
How many witnesses does a will need?
50 states require 2 witnesses; 0 states require 3. Witnesses generally must be at least 18, mentally competent, and disinterested (not named as beneficiaries). Most states also require witnesses to sign in the testator's presence and, in some, in each other's presence.
Do all states recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?
No. 29 states recognize holographic (handwritten, unwitnessed) wills, typically only if the material provisions and signature are in the testator's handwriting. The remaining 22 jurisdictions require witnesses regardless of whether the will is handwritten or typed.
Are electronic (digital) wills legal?
19 states have enacted electronic wills statutes that recognize wills signed and witnessed via electronic means under specific procedural rules. The majority of states still require a physical, signed, and witnessed paper document.
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