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Handwritten Wills: Will They Hold Up In Court?

  • Published: April 23, 2021
Handwritten Wills

There are general requirements for handwritten wills. As the laws vary from state to state, your handwritten will must be valid in your state. If you live in the southern California area, contact the Anaheim wills and trust attorney Katje Law Group to get the information you need about requirements in your state.

The Anaheim estate planning law firm, Katje Law Group, will explain the four requirements for a handwritten holographic will to be valid in California. They are:

  • It needs to be evident the testator, the person who has made the will, wanted the document to serve as their will
  • The testator had to have testamentary capacity when the document was drafted
  • The handwriting must be that of the testators
  • The signature on the document must be the testator

There can be complications with handwritten wills. Sometimes it is difficult for a probate judge to verify a handwritten will because of difficulty ensuring it is the testator’s handwriting. Also, there is no requirement that a holographic be signed by witnesses who can attest to requirements, such as if the testator was of sound mind.

How Do You Avoid Issues With A Handwritten Will?

Contact the estate planning Anaheim CA Katje Law Group to remove the doubt, confusion, and stress that can arise from a holographic will. You do not want your loved ones to wait longer than necessary before they claim their inheritance, and a long and expensive probate process. Also, a holographic will can cause problems among the heirs.

But if you choose to do a holographic will, ensure that you get the professional advice of an estate planning Anaheim lawyer who can determine if it will hold up under the scrutiny of a probate judge.

Contact the Katje Law Group in Anaheim, CA, for all the advice you need about preparing your will, whether you choose to do it yourself or have an attorney draw it up for you. Contact them today. You will be glad you did.

September Katje, Esq.

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What Makes Attorney September Katje Uniquely Qualified To Represent You?


Ms. Katje earned her Juris Doctorate at California Western School of Law, San Diego, California, graduated Cum Laude and was a Dean’s Honor List recipient. She was also a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Contracts I and Contracts II. Ms. Katje was a member of the Law Review and International Law Journal at California Western School Law, where she was an Associate Editor.



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