ByCan You Just Write a Will and Get It Notarized—Find Out!
Writing a will can be complicated. You need to follow certain state rules and make sure your will falsely valid. Does a will require witnesses or notarization or both? This article will clear everything up so that you don’t have to wonder, “Can you just write a will and get it notarized?” We will also break down notarizing a document and show you how our app makes online notarization easy and convenient.
Does a Will Have To Be Notarized?
Once you pass away, your family and friends you leave your estate to will run into problems if your will is invalid. If you have written your will properly following the state laws and had the necessary witnesses—typically two—you don’t have to notarize it.
When the court starts processing your will, it could call upon your witnesses. If they moved or died, having a notarized will can help prove its validity. In case someone wants to contest your will, notarization can act as protection.
If you want your witnesses to sign a self-proving affidavit, you’ll need a notary. A self-proving affidavit is an additional document besides the will. By signing it, witnesses swear in front of a notary that they witnessed the signing of a will and that they attest to all the statements listed above their signatures. A notary will notarize the affidavit with a notary signature and seal.
Can a Will Be Notarized Instead of Witnessed?
All states except for Colorado and North Dakota forbid will-makers from notarizing a will instead of having witnesses.
Who Can Notarize a Will?
Wills are sensitive and intricate documents. This is why most states discourage newly appointed notaries from notarizing wills. Some offices and institutions—such as banks—that offer notary services may refuse to notarize wills.
If you’re looking for a notary on your own, you should tell them you want to notarize a will before booking an appointment to avoid being disappointed later in case they tell you they cannot do it.
Types of notaries that may be able to notarize wills are:
- Regular notaries—notarizing paper documents in person at their offices
- Mobile notaries—visiting the clients to perform notarial acts
- Online notaries—notarizing documents online via a video call
- Electronic notaries—notarizing electronic documents in person
Where Can I Get a Will Notarized?
You can look for notaries who are able to notarize your will in the following ways:
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Websites dedicated to notaries | |
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Public places |
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| With our app, you don’t have to wonder whether you’ll find a notary because we’ll do it for you. DoNotPay will match you with a remote notary who can notarize wills and help you schedule your online notary appointment |
Notarize a Will With the Help of DoNotPay
Our app is a secure and convenient way of notarizing documents, including wills. The advantages of using DoNotPay for notarization are numerous, such as:
- Forgetting about manual notary search
- Having documents notarized on any device
- Notarizing from the comfort of your home
- Not overpaying notaries
- Enjoying other features in our app
The best part of relying on DoNotPay for notary services is that all it takes is several clicks.
Here’s how it works:
- Access DoNotPay from a
- Enter Notarize Any Document
- Upload your document
- Provide your email address
Once you complete these steps, you will receive a link via email. If you follow it, you’ll be able to set up an appointment with a notary in no time.
Writing and Notarizing Documents Is Easy With DoNotPay
If you need help writing your will, we can provide tips and guidance. In case you also need to draw up other documents, we will assist you! With our app, you can learn about writing different documents and also use it to generate many of them:
| Get Familiar With Writing: | Use DoNotPay To Draft: |
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Find Answers to Other Notary-Related Questions
Just like we answered your questions about notarizing wills, you can count on our articles to provide detailed answers and explanations to other questions, such as:
- What can be notarized?
- Can you notarize a document at the USPS?
- What is notary acknowledgment?
- How long is a notarized document valid?
- Is a notarized document legally binding?
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