Washington Last Will and Testament

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Creating a last will and testament is a vital step in your adult life. It’s necessary to be prepared for anything and have a plan for your loved ones should tragedy strike.

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1 Washington Last Will and Testament Template
2 Washington Last Will and Testament Requirements
3 Frequently Asked Questions

Creating your own will isn’t always a complex process, depending on where you live. In Washington state, it is relatively easy to create a will template.

Washington Last Will and Testament Template

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Washington Last Will and Testament Requirements

There are a few requirements for a legal will in Washington. These ensure that your document will be legally binding, and those in your life will execute your posthumous wishes.

The requirements also prevent fraud. Here are the requirements for a last will and testament form in Washington:

  • The testator must be at least 18 years of age
  • The testator must be of sound mind
  • Two disinterested witnesses must be present and sign the will with the testator

However, these minimum requirements are not all you will need to create a legal will. Suppose you have complicated legal issues, such as disinheriting a spouse or child or splitting the inheritance multiple ways. In that case, you might need to consult a lawyer to make a document that expresses those wishes adequately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Making a will can be complicated and confusing. Many lawyers and government websites have a question and answer forum for will questions. Here are some of the most common questions about wills in Washington state.

To be legal in Washington, a will must have a valid testator. The testator is the person creating the will, who must be of sound mind and at least 18 years old. Two witnesses are also required. These witnesses must be disinterested, meaning that they are not beneficiaries of the will.

Wills do not need to be notarized in Washington. They are legally binding with the minimum requirements. However, it might be helpful to take your will (and witnesses) to a notary to make it a self-proving document. A notarized document prevents any contestation in the courts.

You can write your own will in Washington, either by doing it yourself or using a last will and testament template. However, a lawyer should look at more complicated wills to ensure they don’t get contested in court.

Because you don’t need to hire a lawyer or get your will notarized, you can create a completely free last will and testament form in Washington.

As long as your assets aren’t too complicated and you don’t want to self-prove your document, you don’t have to pay anything for a legally binding will.

Washington’s court system will not recognize handwritten wills. However, Washington has recently implemented an electronic will law, making it easier for notaries, witnesses, and testators to put together a testament from afar. This law went into effect on January 1st, 2022.