What is a holographic Will, and how does it work?
A. A “holographic” Will is a Will that is written entirely in your own handwriting. No witnesses are required, and no portion of the Will may be typed. If you type some or all of the words, or you incorporate other markings or other documents into the text, you could inadvertently invalidate the Will. The idea behind holographic Wills is that since the entire document is in a person’s handwriting, there is no need for witnesses to sign it to establish its validity. Holographic Wills don’t need to be notarized either, but they do need to be signed. Most lawyers would tell you it’s a bad idea to write your own Will because you can easily create ambiguities and other defects that can lead to litigation following your death. This is especially true in second marriage situations when one or both spouses have children from prior marriages or relationships. If you decide to write your own Will, you should be sure to say in the introductory sentence that it is your Will, and that you are revok
