In order make a valid will, it must meet certain formal requirements. In particular, a will must generally: (1) be in writing, (2) signed by the testator, (3) witnessed by 2 or 3 witnesses, and (4) some states require an attestation clause in the will. This type of will is a known as a written formalized will, which accounts for the vast majority of all wills (probably around 99% of all wills). In contrast, other less common types of wills include oral wills and holographic wills, which we will not discuss in this article.
It’s important to understand the elements in making a will. Let’s discuss each of these elements in a little more detail.
Next, we’ll take a look at the writing requirement.