Signing your will
Downloading your will document is only the first step. A will is not legally valid until it has been properly signed. Here is exactly what you need to do.
Before you sign
Print your will on standard letter-size paper. Use a laser or inkjet printer — handwritten changes to a printed will can raise legal questions, so print the final document fresh rather than writing on it.
Read through the entire document before signing. If anything looks wrong or does not reflect your wishes, log back in to Trustwise, correct your answers, and download a fresh copy. Do not cross out or change printed text on the document itself.
What you will need
- The printed will (all pages)
- Two witnesses present at the same time (see the Witnesses article for who qualifies)
- A pen (blue or black ink is conventional)
- Optionally, a notary public if you want to create a self-proving will
Step-by-step signing process
1. Gather everyone together
You, both witnesses, and the notary (if using) must all be in the same room at the same time. None of the signing steps can happen separately or remotely.
2. Declare your will
Tell your witnesses: "This is my will, and I am signing it voluntarily." You do not have to read the document aloud. Your declaration is just to confirm you know what you are signing.
3. Sign every signature line
Sign your name on every line provided for your signature. In most Trustwise documents this is one primary signature line. Sign exactly as your name appears in the document.
4. Witnesses sign
Each witness signs on the witness signature lines in your presence and in each other's presence. Witnesses should also print their names and include their addresses on the lines provided.
5. Optional: notarization
If you want a self-proving will (which simplifies probate by eliminating the need for a witness to testify later), a notary public can complete the self-proving affidavit at the end of the document. The notary will ask you and your witnesses to affirm your signatures and will apply their seal.
After signing
Do not make any changes to the signed document. If you need to change anything, go back to Trustwise, update your answers, download a new document, and sign it again.
Store your signed original somewhere safe and tell your executor exactly where it is. Common options:
- Fireproof home safe
- Safe-deposit box at a bank
- With your estate attorney
- Filed with your state's will registry (California, for example, allows wills to be deposited with the Superior Court)
Keep a photocopy or digital scan for reference, but the original signed document is what controls.