Estate Planning State Laws:
Creating a Valid Will

This chart highlights the state laws related to estate planning and creating a valid will, including the type of will allowed in your state (statutory, written, oral), the number of witnesses required, whether you need a notary, and more. Check back often, as this chart is updated frequently.

If you don't find what you're looking for, see our chart of state laws related to Remote Execution of Estate Planning Documents, Death with Dignity, and Funeral Designations.

For more information, see our Estate Planning Materials & Resources, and our State-Specific Estate Planning Toolkit.

StateWritten/Oral/ StatutoryNumber of Witnesses RequiredSelf Proving Affidavit Provision?Notarization Required for Self-ProvingProbate Process: UPC/Non-UPCNotesHas Statutory Will Form
ALABAMAWritten2YesYeshttps://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2022/title-43/chapter-8/article-7/division-1/section-43-8-132/Non-UPC
ALASKAWritten2 (But allows holographic will, which doesn't require witnesses)YesYeshttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#13.12.504UPC
ARIZONAWritten2 (But allows holographic will, which doesn't require witnesses)YesYeshttps://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/14/02504.htmUPC
ARKANSASWritten2 (But allows holographic will, which doesn't require witnesses)YesYeshttps://advance.lexis.com/documentpage/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=9487ee0f-b406-41bb-950a-7121a70456ff&pdistocdocslideraccess=true&config=00JAA2ZjZiM2VhNS0wNTVlLTQ3NzUtYjQzYy0yYWZmODJiODRmMDYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fXiYCnsel0plIgqpYkw9PK&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fstatutes-legislation%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A4WVS-8DK0-R03K-K2BK-00008-00&pdcomponentid=234171&pdtocnodeidentifier=ABCAADAACAAH&ecomp=g2vckkk&prid=ed7ca6f6-baf0-47b9-a885-e543ca91205aNon-UPCSelf proving provision does not give model affidavit
CALIFORNIAWritten/Statutory (California Probate Code, Part 1, Chapter 6)2 (But allows holographic will, which doesn't require witnesses)YesNohttps://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PROB§ionNum=8220.Non-UPCSelf proving provision does not give model affidavitxhttp://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/CAStatutoryWillForm_ab_1986_bill_20100715_chaptered.pdf
COLORADOWritten2 (But allows holographic will)YesYeshttps://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-15-probate-trusts-and-fiduciaries/co-rev-st-sect-15-11-504.htmlUPCCan also have notary public authorize without witnessesC.R.S.A. § 15-11-502; https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2017/title-15/colorado-probate-code/article-11/part-5/section-15-11-502/
CONNECTICUTWritten2YesYeshttps://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_802b.htm#sec_45a-285Non-UPCSelf proving provision does not give model affidavit
DELAWAREWritten2YesYeshttps://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c013/index.htmlNon-UPC
*DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAWritten2Yes (electronic only)Yeshttps://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/18-908Non-UPCSelf proving is only available for electronic willshttps://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/18-908
FLORIDAWritten2YesYeshttp://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0732/Sections/0732.503.htmlNon-UPC
GEORGIAWritten2YesYeshttps://codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-53-wills-trusts-and-administration-of-estates/ga-code-sect-53-4-24.htmlNon-UPC
HAWAIIWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol12_ch0501-0588/hrs0560/HRS_0560-0002-0504.htmUPC
IDAHOWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title15/t15ch2/sect15-2-504/UPC
ILLINOISWritten2NoNoNon-UPC
INDIANAWritten/Oral (I.C. 29-1-5-4)2YesNohttps://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-29-probate/in-code-sect-29-1-5-3-1.htmlNon-UPCIf there is an interested witness and will cannot be proven without their testimony, then the parts of the will related to that witness are voidI.C. 29-1-5-2(c) ; https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-29-probate/in-code-sect-29-1-5-2/
IOWAWritten2YesYeshttps://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/633.279.pdfNon-UPC
KANSASWritten/Oral (K.S.A. 59-608)2YesYeshttps://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_006_0006.htmlNon-UPC
KENTUCKYWritten2 (But allows holographic wills if written by the testator)YesYeshttps://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=36262Non-UPC
LOUISIANAWritten2 (But allows holographic will if written, signed, and dated by testator)Yes (Provision specifically for form of notarization)Yeshttps://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=108902Non-UPC
MAINEWritten/Statutory (18-C M.R.S.A. § 2-517)2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec2-503.htmlUPCxhttp://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec2-517.pdf
MARYLANDWritten2(Allows holographic wills for those in military; MD Code, Estates and Trusts § 4-103)Yes (for electronic wills)Yeshttps://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=get§ion=4-102Non-UPCSelf proving required if electronic will or remotely notarized; witnesses must be in physical presence of testator if not electronichttps://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=get§ion=4-102
MASSACHUSETTSWritten2YesYeshttps://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c190b-ss-2-504UPC
MICHIGANWritten/Statutory (M.C.L.A. 700.2519)2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(3yoz05ksrig1fcg5lsaxqkgs))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectName=mcl-700-2504UPCxhttp://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(cdhuhhkfgz0ngz2tn4yfjsjk))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-700-2519.pdf
MINNESOTAWritten2YesYeshttps://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.2-504UPC
MISSISSIPPIWritten/Oral (Miss. Code § 91-5-15)2 (But allows holographic will)YesYeshttps://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-91-trusts-and-estates/ms-code-sect-91-7-7.html#:~:text=The%20execution%20of%20the%20will%20may%20be%20proved%20by%20affidavits%20of%20subscribing%20witnesses.%20The%20affidavits%20may%20be%20annexed%20to%20the%20will%20or%20may%20be%20a%20part%20of%20the%20will%2C%20and%20shall%20state%20the%20address%20of%20each%20subscribing%20witness.%20Such%20affidavits%20may%20be%20signed%20at%20the%20time%20that%20the%20will%20is%20executed.Non-UPCOral will must be written within 6 months to be probated; Self proving provision does not give model affidavit
MISSOURIWritten/Oral (V.A.M.S. 474.340)2YesYeshttps://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=474.337Non-UPC
MONTANAWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0720/chapter_0020/part_0050/section_0240/0720-0020-0050-0240.htmlUPC
NEBRASKAWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=30-2329UPC
NEVADAWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-133.html#NRS133Sec050Non-UPC
NEW HAMPSHIREWritten/Oral (only for soldiers; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 551:15)2YesYeshttps://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/2022/title-lvi/title-551/section-551-2-a/Non-UPC
NEW JERSEYWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/nxt/gateway.dll/statutes/1/3679/3703UPC
NEW MEXICOWritten/Statutory (N.M.S.A. § 45-2A-172YesYeshttps://codes.findlaw.com/nm/chapter-45-uniform-probate-code/nm-st-sect-45-2-504.htmlUPCxhttps://willforms.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Mexico-Last-Will-and-Testament-Form.pdf
NEW YORKWritten/Oral (limited to military NY CLS EPTL § 3-2.2)2 (holographic wills limited to military NY CLS EPTL § 3-2.2)NoNoNon-UPC
NORTH CAROLINAWritten/Oral (limited N.C.G.S. § 31-3.5)2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_31/gs_31-11.6.htmlNon-UPC
NORTH DAKOTAWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t30-1c08.pdfUPCNo witnesses needed if acknowledged by testator in front of a notaryhttps://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t30-1c08.pdf
OHIOWritten/Oral (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2107.60)2NoNoNon-UPCOral will must be written within 10 days and signed by two witnesseshttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2107.60
OKLAHOMAWritten/Oral (limited to military Okla. Stat. tit. 84 § 84-46)2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://oksenate.gov/sites/default/files/2019-12/os84.pdfNon-UPC
OREGONWritten2YesYeshttps://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_112.232Non-UPC
PENNSYLVANIAWritten0YesYeshttps://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=20&div=0&chpt=31&sctn=32&subsctn=1Non-UPC2 witnesses required if testator is unable to sign will themselveshttps://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=20&div=0&chpt=25&sctn=2&subsctn=0
*PUERTO RICOWritten/Oral (31 L.P.R.A. § 2144)0NoNoNon-UPC
RHODE ISLANDWritten2YesYeshttp://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE33/33-7/33-7-26.htmNon-UPC
SOUTH CAROLINAWritten2YesYeshttps://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62c002.php#:~:text=SECTION%2062%2D2%2D503.,%2C%20and%20made%20self%2Dproved.UPC
SOUTH DAKOTAWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/29A-2-504UPC
TENNESSEEWritten/Oral (Tenn. Code Ann. § 32-1-106)2 (But allows holographic will)YesYeshttps://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-32/chapter-2/32-2-110Non-UPCHas an informal probate process similar UPC states
TEXASWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ES/htm/ES.251.htm#:~:text=251.104.,officer%20authorized%20to%20administer%20oaths.Non-UPC
UTAHWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title75/Chapter2/75-2-S504.htmlUPC
VERMONTWritten2YesYeshttps://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/14/003/00108Non-UPCSelf proving provision does not give model affidavit
VIRGINIAWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title64.2/chapter4/section64.2-452/Non-UPC
WASHINGTONWritten/Oral (limited to military. Wash. Rev. Code § 11 12-025)2Yes (for electronic wills)Yeshttps://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.12.450Non-UPC
WEST VIRGINIAWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://code.wvlegislature.gov/41-5-15/Non-UPCSelf proving provision does not give model affidavit
WISCONSINWritten/Statutory2YesYeshttps://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/853/i/04Non-UPCxhttps://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/853/ii/55
WYOMINGWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)YesYeshttps://codes.findlaw.com/wy/title-2-wills-decedents-estates-and-probate-code/wy-st-sect-2-6-114.htmlNon-UPC
GUAMWritten2 (But allows holographic wills)NoNoNon-UPCMore Informationhttp://www.guamcourts.org/CompilerofLaws/GCA/15gca/15gc002.PDF
Last Updated2/24

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