Will requirements by state
Every US state has different rules. Here’s what’s required where you live — and what’s the same everywhere.
What every US state requires
- •Written will signed by the testator — oral wills are not recognized in any state
- •Testator must be of sound mind — 18+ in almost all states (Georgia: 14+; Louisiana: 16+)
- •Self-proving affidavit available in most states — lets your will skip witness testimony at probate; not available in D.C., Maryland, or Ohio
- •Notarization is NOT required anywhere — but strongly recommended, as it makes probate significantly easier. Remote Online Notarization (RON) is now authorized in all 50 states + D.C., so you can notarize via video call without leaving home.
- •Guardian designation in a will is honored in all 50 states + D.C. — courts always apply a “best interests of the child” standard but give strong weight to your named choice
What varies by state
- •Witness requirements — most states require 2 witnesses; Pennsylvania requires none for a standard signed will
- •Holographic (handwritten) wills — valid in about half of states; in others, a typed will with witnesses is required
- •Community property rules — 9 states treat property acquired during marriage as jointly owned (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)
- •Minimum age — Georgia requires 14; Louisiana requires 16; all others require 18
- •RUFADAA (digital assets law) — adopted in 49 jurisdictions; not yet in Massachusetts; Louisiana not applicable
- •Electronic wills (e-wills) — about 8 states allow fully electronic execution (digital signatures + remote witnessing); most states still require a physical paper will. Laws are evolving rapidly.
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
2019
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
2022
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
2023
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
2019
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
2018
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
2017
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
2021
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
2020
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
2022
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
Holographic will
Not valid
E-will
No
Community property state
Yes
Holographic will
Valid
E-will
No
RUFADAA = Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. When adopted, your will can explicitly authorize your executor to access digital accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, and other digital property.
Available for 49 states and D.C. Louisiana is not available due to its unique Civil Code requirements.