Add Comments To Legal California Wills Forms For Free

The will must be in writing. The will must be signed in front of two witnesses and a legally authorized person (an attorney is fine). A certificate in the exact form of California Probate Code section 6384 must be signed, dated, and attached to the will. The will must be for only one person.

The document must be dated and signed by two witnesses in order for it to be considered legal under California law. A Living Will form may include: specification for end-of-life decisions; do not resuscitate (DNR) orders; and designation of a health care surrogate.

A valid will in California must be in writing, signed by the testator. This means a physical writing. Electronic documents, with electronic signatures, are valid for many transactions in California under the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, but it does not apply for wills.

A digital copy, like a PDF of your will saved on your computer, isn't considered valid under California law. Neither is an oral will. You must sign your will in the presence of at least two competent, disinterested witnesses, who also sign at the same time.

Notarization is not required in California to make your will legal. Some states allow you to make your will "self-proving" by signing a special affidavit in front of a notary that accompanies the will. However, California allows your will to be self-proved without a self-proving affidavit.

No, you don't need a lawyer to make a will in California. Unless your situation is super complicated (take our quick quiz to find out if you need a lawyer), you can either use a downloadable template, or you can use simple, software-driven online forms written by attorneys.