Will requirements in every US state
What makes a will legally valid changes at every state line: who can witness it, whether a notary is involved, whether a handwritten or electronic will counts. Pick your state for the exact rules, in plain language, with the statutes to back them up.
51 jurisdictions. Last legal review: April 2026.
Find your state, from Alabama to Wyoming
- Alabama soon
- Alaska soon
- Arizona soon
- Arkansas soon
- California
- Colorado soon
- Connecticut soon
- Delaware soon
- Georgia soon
- Hawaii soon
- Idaho soon
- Illinois soon
- Indiana soon
- Iowa soon
- Kansas soon
- Kentucky soon
- Maine soon
- Maryland soon
- Massachusetts soon
- Michigan soon
- Minnesota soon
- Mississippi soon
- Missouri soon
- Montana soon
- Nebraska soon
- Nevada soon
- New Hampshire soon
- New Jersey soon
- New Mexico soon
- New York
- North Carolina soon
- North Dakota soon
- Ohio
- Oklahoma soon
- Oregon soon
- Pennsylvania soon
- Rhode Island soon
- South Carolina soon
- South Dakota soon
- Tennessee soon
- Texas
- Utah soon
- Vermont soon
- Virginia soon
- Washington soon
- Washington, DC soon
- West Virginia soon
- Wisconsin soon
- Wyoming soon
What every state agrees on
Almost everywhere, you must be an adult of sound mind. Most states say 18; Georgia says 14 and Louisiana says 16.
Every state but Louisiana accepts a typed will signed in front of two witnesses, with no notary required. That is the form Myend prepares today. Louisiana also requires a notary, and its will is being built separately.
No state requires a lawyer to make a valid will.
What changes at the border
states recognize fully handwritten (holographic) wills. The rest do not.
jurisdictions have authorized electronic wills. Paper remains the safe universal standard.
states are community property states, where your spouse already owns half of what you built together.
states, Colorado and North Dakota, let a notary stand in for your two witnesses.
Small facts worth knowing
Ohio and Washington, DC are the only jurisdictions without a self-proving affidavit for a standard paper will.
In Florida, a clause that punishes someone for challenging your will is simply void.
Georgia lets you make a will at 14, the youngest in the country.
Louisiana is the only civil-law state. Its wills follow rules the other 50 states do not use.
In California, the self-proving language is built into the will itself. No separate affidavit needed.
These pages are generated from the same jurisdiction rule set that powers Myend's will builder. Each rule carries its statute citation. Last legal review: April 2026. When a state changes its law, the app and these pages change together.
This is general legal information, not legal advice.
Your state's rules, already built in
Myend prepares a will that meets your state's signing requirements, and walks you through making it official.