Estate · Handwritten Wills
Are Handwritten Wills Valid in Pennsylvania?
Whether Pennsylvania recognizes a handwritten will with no witnesses, what has to be in your own hand, the exceptions, and how the state treats a will made elsewhere. Cited to the statute.
The rules and exceptions in Pennsylvania
What makes a handwritten will valid here, when it fails, and how the state treats one made in another state.
| The rule in this state | What it means |
|---|---|
| Writing plus your signature at the end | Under 20 Pa.C.S. §2502, a will need only be in writing and signed by the testator at the end. Pennsylvania does not require attesting witnesses for a will to be valid when signed. |
| No separate holographic category | Because the baseline formality is already just writing plus a signature, Pennsylvania has no distinct holographic-will statute. A handwritten, unwitnessed will is valid on the same terms as any other will. |
| Signed at the end | The signature must be at the end of the will. Anything added below the signature can be disregarded. |
| Exceptions and details | What it means |
|---|---|
| Proving it at probate | Validity needs no witnesses, but probate typically requires two witnesses to prove the testator’s signature, unless the will is self-proved. This is why lawyers still have wills witnessed. It is a proof step, not a validity condition. |
| Inheritance tax still applies | A valid will does not change Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax, which applies to property passing at death regardless of the form of the will. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps to make a will that will hold up in Pennsylvania. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Write it and sign at the end
For a valid Pennsylvania will, put it in writing and sign at the very end. No witnesses are required for the will to be valid.
- Keep any additions above the signature
Anything written below your signature can be ignored. Make sure every provision you want to count sits above where you sign.
- Plan for the probate proof step
Even a valid unwitnessed will usually needs two witnesses to your signature at probate, unless it is self-proved. Having it witnessed or self-proved now saves trouble later.
- Talk to a Pennsylvania estate attorney for a larger estate
Handwritten wills are valid but easier to contest. A licensed Pennsylvania estate attorney can prepare a self-proved will. The Bar can refer you to one.
A defective will can send an estate into intestacy. This resource can connect you with a licensed estate attorney who can make sure your will is valid.
→ Pennsylvania Bar Association — Find a LawyerThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Handwriting rules, signature placement, and out-of-state recognition can change the answer, so confirm your will with a licensed attorney.
What people get wrong about Pennsylvania handwritten wills
Pennsylvania recognizes handwritten wills, but through a quirk of how it defines a valid will rather than a special holographic rule. Under 20 Pa.C.S. §2502 a will only needs to be in writing and signed by the testator at the end. Pennsylvania never required attesting witnesses at execution, so a will you write and sign yourself is valid on the same terms as any other, which is why the state is listed as recognizing holographic wills. There is no separate holographic category to satisfy. Two details matter. First, the signature must be at the end; anything written below it can be disregarded. Second, and this trips people up, validity and proof are different things. A valid unwitnessed will still usually needs two witnesses to prove your signature at probate, unless the will is self-proved, which is why lawyers keep having wills witnessed even though the law does not require it for validity. So a handwritten Pennsylvania will is valid, but making it self-proved or witnessed makes probate far smoother.
Common questions
Is a handwritten will valid in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Under 20 Pa.C.S. §2502 a will needs only to be in writing and signed at the end, with no witnesses required for validity. A handwritten, unwitnessed will is valid like any other.
Does a Pennsylvania will need witnesses?
Not for validity. But probate usually requires two witnesses to prove your signature, unless the will is self-proved. That is why wills are still commonly witnessed even though it is not required to be valid.
Where do I have to sign a Pennsylvania will?
At the end. Section 2502 requires the signature at the end of the will, and anything written below the signature can be disregarded, so keep every provision above it.
What is a self-proved will in Pennsylvania?
A will with an attached sworn statement that lets it be admitted to probate without live witness testimony. It removes the need to track down witnesses to your signature later.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.