Will laws by state

Will requirements in all 50 states, compared

Witnesses, handwritten wills, self-proving affidavits, electronic wills and video witnessing, side by side. Researched from each state's statutes and last reviewed October 24, 2026.

Start my free will Rules in my state

State	Witnesses	Handwritten wills	Self-proving affidavit	Electronic wills	Video witnesses
Alabama	2	No	Yes	No	No
Alaska	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Arizona	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Arkansas	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
California	2	Yes	No	No	No
Colorado	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Connecticut	2	No	Yes	No	No
Delaware	2	No	Yes	No	No
District of Columbia	2	No	No	Yes	Yes
Florida	2	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Georgia	2	No	Yes	No	No
Hawaii	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Idaho	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Illinois	2	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Indiana	2	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Iowa	2	No	Yes	No	Yes
Kansas	2	No	Yes	No	No
Kentucky	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Louisiana	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Maine	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Maryland	2	No	No	Yes	Yes
Massachusetts	2	No	Yes	No	No
Michigan	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Minnesota	2	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mississippi	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Missouri	2	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Montana	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Nebraska	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Nevada	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
New Hampshire	2	No	Yes	No	Yes
New Jersey	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
New Mexico	2	No	Yes	No	No
New York	2	No	Yes	2027	No
North Carolina	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
North Dakota	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Ohio	2	No	No	No	No
Oklahoma	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Oregon	2	No	Yes	No	No
Pennsylvania	0*	Yes	Yes	No	No
Rhode Island	2	No	Yes	No	No
South Carolina	2	No	Yes	No	No
South Dakota	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Tennessee	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Texas	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Utah	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vermont	2	No	Yes	No	No
Virginia	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Washington	2	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
West Virginia	2	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wisconsin	2	No	Yes	No	Yes
Wyoming	2	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

* Pennsylvania doesn't require witnesses at signing for a will signed at the end, but two witnesses are needed to prove it in court, so sign in front of two. "2027": passed but not yet in effect. Video witnessing rules vary widely; see each state's page.

States that allow handwritten (holographic) wills

A will written and signed in your own handwriting is valid without witnesses in these 27 jurisdictions. Requirements differ, so check your state's page.

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

States that allow electronic wills

These 16 jurisdictions let you sign a will electronically. New York has passed a law that isn't in effect yet.

Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington

States where witnesses can join by video

In these 19 jurisdictions, witnesses can take part by live video under conditions set by state law, often through an online notary or a supervising attorney.

Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

States where a notary can replace witnesses

These states let you acknowledge your will before a notary instead of having it witnessed.

Colorado, North Dakota

States without a notarized self-proving affidavit

These jurisdictions don't use a separate notarized self-proving affidavit for paper wills. A witnessed attestation clause in the will does a similar job.

California, District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio

States where you can file your will with the court during your lifetime

These 27 states let you deposit your will with a court or registry for safekeeping.

Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

States with a minimum age other than 18

Everywhere else, you must be 18 (or, in some states, married, emancipated or in the military).

Georgia (14), Louisiana (16)

Will laws by state: common questions

Which states allow handwritten wills?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 jurisdictions accept a holographic (handwritten) will without witnesses: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Which states allow electronic wills?

As of October 24, 2026: Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington. New York has passed a law that isn't in effect yet.

Which states let will witnesses join by video?

Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, under conditions set by each state's law.

Does any state let a notary replace witnesses on a will?

Yes: Colorado and North Dakota let you acknowledge your will before a notary instead of using witnesses.

How many witnesses does a will need?

For a typed or printed will, two witnesses in every state except Pennsylvania, which doesn't require witnesses at signing for a will signed at the end, though two witnesses are needed to prove it in court. Some states also accept handwritten wills without witnesses, and Colorado and North Dakota allow a notary instead. Choose adult witnesses who inherit nothing.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change; confirm with your state's statutes or an attorney before relying on them.

Fifteen minutes today. Generations of good.

Write your will, choose your causes, and print it for signing. It's free, and your answers stay on your device.

Start my free plan