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A will does not have to be notarized to be valid. Holographic wills are one example. In many states the will has to be witnessed, but does not have to be notarized.
They are not recognized in Georgia
A handwritten will is called a holographic will. In certain cases an unsigned holographic will may be considered valid, however, holographic wills aren't considered valid in every jurisdiction. You need to check the laws in your particular jurisdiction. You could search by entering your state + holographic wills.
A holographic will is one that is handwritten by the testator. Handwritten wills must be witnessed to be valid. Although Tennessee law recognizes a handwritten will, state laws can be very particular regarding handwritten wills. Handwritten wills that are not properly witnessed are invalid in Tennessee
Henry Wills - Medal of Honor - was born in 1842.
A holographic will is a will written completely in the handwriting of the testator that does not meet statutory requirements for a legal will. Holographic wills are legal in NY only under limited circumstances for people in the military, people associated with the military, and mariners all as set forth in the section at the link below. At NY Statutes: Click on EPT-Estates, Powers & Trusts Click on Article 3 Part 2-Execution of Wills Click on 3-2.2- Nuncupative and holographic wills
Shelby Wills was born on May 30, 1980, in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
That will is not likely to be valid. Holographic wills are acceptable in many states but a holographic will must be in the handwriting of the testator and not only signed by the testator. From your description it sounds as though the will you question could be easily challenged if presented to a court.
You need two witnesses for a will or codicil to a will. However, if the will or codicil is entirely handwritten (holographic will/codicil), no witnesses are needed. Holographic wills are valid in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
No. State laws govern Wills in the United States.
I have not notarized a Will, but this is what the NNA states:"Wills are highly sensitive documents, the format of which is dictated by strict laws. The slightest deviation from these laws can nullify a will. In some cases, holographic (handwritten) wills may be invalidated by notarization. Notaries who make the mistake of helping to prepare a will may be sued by would-be or dissatisfied heirs for the unauthorized practice of law.InstructionsA document presented to a Notary as a will should be notarized only if clear instructions and a notarial certificate are provided for the Notary. Ideally, the signer would be following the precise directions of an attorney.Homemade WillsOften, misguided individuals will prepare their own wills and bring them to Notaries to have them "legalized." They will depend on the Notary to know what kind of notarization is appropriate. Of course, Notaries have no authority to offer such advice. And, whether notarized or not, these supposed "wills" may be worthless.State VariationsIn many states, notarization of a will is rarely done and is unnecessary if other witnessing procedures are used, and in other states, wills don't need to be notarized at all. When wills require notarization, it is often the signature of witnesses on affidavits appended to the will that must be notarized, not the signature of the testator or testatrix (maker of the will).Only a few states have specific Notary laws or directives concerning the notarization of wills. New York instructs that a Notary should notarize a document described as a will only if a notarial certificate is provided or stipulated for each signer. The California notary Public Handbook states, "The California State Bar advises that when a Notary is asked to notarize a document which purports to be a will, the Notary public should decline and advise the person requesting the notarization to consult a member of the California State Bar."Living WillsDocuments popularly called living wills are not actually wills, but written statements of a signer's wishes concerning medical treatment in the event the signer has an illness or injury and is unable to give instructions on his or her own behalf. Durable powers of attorney for health care are a similar kind of document. Notarization of these forms is often required.TrustsTrusts, in which a signer may place property "in trust" for heirs, are sometimes used in place of wills to avoid probate costs. Papers creating a trust may also require notarization."
Most states have passed laws that authorize people to draw up living wills, but it is important to get specific information about the laws in one's own state.