How to make a will in Connecticut

Connecticut will requirements at a glance

How to sign a will in Connecticut

1. Print your will and read every word. Fill in any blanks in ink, but don't sign yet.
2. Choose two adult witnesses who receive nothing under your will and aren't married to anyone who does.
3. Sign and date your will in front of both witnesses, at the same time. Then each witness signs while you and the other witness watch. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251)
4. Make it self-proving. You and your witnesses sign a short self-proving affidavit in front of a notary, so the court won't need to find your witnesses later. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-285)
5. Store the original safely and tell your executor where it is.

Who can make a will

Anyone 18 or older and of sound mind. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-250)

Witness rules

The will must be in writing, signed (subscribed) by the testator, and attested by two witnesses, each signing in the testator's presence. Court annotations say witnesses need not sign in each other's presence and the order of signing does not matter. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251)

If a witness inherits: A gift to a witness, or to the witness's spouse, is void unless the will is validly attested without that witness's signature or the witness is an heir of the testator; the will itself stays valid (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-258).

Handwritten wills

Not recognized for wills signed in Connecticut; every will needs two witnesses. A will valid under the law of the state or country where it was executed (including a foreign holographic will) may be probated (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251).

Self-proving affidavit

Any attesting witness may sign an affidavit before an officer authorized to administer oaths, on the will or attached to it, stating the facts he or she would testify to. The Probate Court accepts it as if taken in court. No form is prescribed. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-285)

Can I sign my will online in Connecticut?

No. No electronic-will or remote-witnessing statute found in Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 802a; § 45a-251 requires each witness to sign in the testator's presence.

Print your will and sign it on paper with your witnesses in the same room.

Online notarization: § 3-95b(i) bars remote acknowledgment of any record in the making and execution of a will, codicil, trust or trust instrument (and also powers of attorney, living wills and health care instructions). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-95b (Public Act 23-28))

Good to know in Connecticut

No statute for depositing a will with a probate court during life was found. After a death, whoever holds the will must deliver it within 30 days to the named executor or the probate court, or face criminal penalties (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-282).

Estate and inheritance taxes

Connecticut has a state estate tax on estates worth more than about $15,000,000 (2026). The federal estate tax applies only to estates over $15,000,000 per person in 2026, and gifts to charity are deductible.

Connecticut will questions

Does a will need to be notarized in Connecticut?

No. Two witnesses make a Connecticut will valid. A notary is needed only for the optional self-proving affidavit, which lets the court accept your will without contacting your witnesses.

Are handwritten wills legal in Connecticut?

Not recognized for wills signed in Connecticut; every will needs two witnesses. A will valid under the law of the state or country where it was executed (including a foreign holographic will) may be probated (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251).

Can a beneficiary witness a will in Connecticut?

A gift to a witness, or to the witness's spouse, is void unless the will is validly attested without that witness's signature or the witness is an heir of the testator; the will itself stays valid (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-258).

Can I make a will online in Connecticut?

You can write your will online for free with MyLastWill, then print it and sign it with your witnesses. Connecticut doesn't allow electronic wills, so the will must be signed on paper.

Does Connecticut have an estate or inheritance tax?

Connecticut has a state estate tax on estates worth more than about $15,000,000 (2026). The federal estate tax applies only to estates over $15,000,000 per person in 2026, and gifts to charity are deductible.

Last reviewed October 24, 2026 against Connecticut statutes. Laws change, and this is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your situation, talk with a Connecticut attorney.