State Requirements for Wills and Living Wills
One row per state. Official links only.
Every state has its own rules for signing a will and a living will, and the difference between a valid document and a worthless one is usually the signing, not the writing. This page lists, for each state, how many witnesses a will needs, whether the state allows a self-proving affidavit, whether the state publishes its own advance directive form, and the witness and notary rule for that form. Each row links to the official source. Where we could not confirm a rule from an official source, the cell says so.
This page is a starting point, not legal advice. Rules change. If your situation is anything other than simple, or your state's row says "Verify with an attorney," talk to an estate attorney in your state.
How to read the table
- Will witnesses. Almost every state requires two adult witnesses. Some also allow a handwritten (holographic) will with no witnesses; we do not recommend relying on one.
- Self-proving affidavit. If "Yes," sign the affidavit in the template before a notary and your witnesses will not need to appear in court. If "No," the affidavit page in the template does not apply in that state.
- Official living will form. If the state publishes one, use it. Doctors recognize it on sight. Use the Farewellit template as your worksheet.
- Living will signing. The witness and notary rule for the advance directive.
The table
| State | Will witnesses | Self-proving affidavit | Official living will form | Living will signing | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Alaska | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Arizona | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 1 witness or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Arkansas | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| California | 2 witnesses; no notary required | No separate affidavit; the witnesses sign a declaration in the will | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Colorado | 2 witnesses or notary (C.R.S. 15-11-502) | Yes | No | 2 witnesses (living will declaration, C.R.S. 15-18-104) | Sep 2026 |
| Connecticut | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Delaware | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | Verify with an attorney | Sep 2026 |
| District of Columbia | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Verify with an attorney | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Florida | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Georgia | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Hawaii | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Idaho | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | No witnesses or notary required (signature and date only) | Sep 2026 |
| Illinois | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Indiana | 2 witnesses (IC 29-1-5-3); notary requirement: Verify with an attorney | Yes | No | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Iowa | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Kansas | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Kentucky | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Louisiana | Notarial testament: 2 witnesses and a notary | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Maine | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Maryland | 2 witnesses; no notary required | No | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Massachusetts | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Michigan | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Minnesota | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Mississippi | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Verify with an attorney | Verify with an attorney | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Missouri | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses and notary (Missouri Bar combined form) | Sep 2026 |
| Montana | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Nebraska | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Nevada | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| New Hampshire | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| New Jersey | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| New Mexico | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | No witnesses or notary required | Sep 2026 |
| New York | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| North Carolina | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses and notary | Sep 2026 |
| North Dakota | 2 witnesses or notary (N.D.C.C. 30.1-08-02) | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Ohio | 2 witnesses; no notary required | No | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Oklahoma | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Oregon | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Signed by the testator at the end; witnesses not required to sign (20 Pa.C.S. 2502), but use 2 witnesses so the will can be self-proved; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Rhode Island | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| South Carolina | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses and notary | Sep 2026 |
| South Dakota | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Tennessee | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Texas | 2 witnesses (age 14 or older); no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| Utah | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 1 witness | Sep 2026 |
| Vermont | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Virginia | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Washington | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
| West Virginia | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses and notary | Sep 2026 |
| Wisconsin | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | Yes | 2 witnesses | Sep 2026 |
| Wyoming | 2 witnesses; no notary required | Yes | No | 2 witnesses or notary | Sep 2026 |
Sources: each row was confirmed against the state's own statute, bar, attorney general, health department, or court site. The full source list is available on request.