Can You Just Write a Will and Get It Notarized?

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help.

Can 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 is legally 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 legal 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:

  1. Regular notaries—notarizing paper documents in person at their offices
  2. Mobile notaries—visiting the clients to perform notarial acts
  3. Online notaries—notarizing documents online via a video call
  4. 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:

MethodExamples

Websites dedicated to notaries

Public places

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:

  1. Access DoNotPay from a
  2. Enter Notarize Any Document
  3. Upload your document
  4. 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 legal 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:
  • Subordination Agreement
  • Commercial Lease Agreement
  • Settlement Agreement
  • Purchase Agreement
  • Hold Harmless Agreement
  • Postnuptial Agreement
  • IRS Installment Agreement
  • Partnership Agreement
  • Forbearance Agreement
  • Confidentiality Agreement
  • Construction Documents
  • Joint Venture Agreement
  • Business Requirements Document
  • Partnership Agreement
  • Parenting Plan (Child Custody Agreement)
  • Promissory Note
  • Prenuptial Agreement
  • LLC Operating Agreement
  • Independent Contractor Agreement
  • Quitclaim Deed
  • Intent To Purchase Real Estate
  • Residential Lease Agreement
  • General Business Contract
  • Non-Compete Agreement
  • Bill of Sale
  • Non-Disclosure Agreement
  • Estoppel Certificate
  • General Affidavit

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:

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