WA · Will guide
Washington will requirements (two witnesses, no in-state holographic shortcut)
You're going to die. Washington already has a backup plan for your stuff, and it is not your Spotify playlist. RCW 11.12.020 wants a written will, your signature (or a directed proxy), and two competent witnesses. There is no in-state unwitnessed holographic shortcut under that statute. Handwritten alone fails.
This page covers the classic paper ceremony, witness-affidavit proof under RCW 11.20.020(2), and why "I wrote it myself so witnesses are optional" is a Washington estate's least favorite myth.
The short version
How to sign a will in Washington
Under RCW 11.12.020 (paper-will default this guide covers):
- Will in writing.
- You sign it, or another person signs under your direction in your presence.
- Two or more competent witnesses attest by subscribing (or by affidavit that complies with RCW 11.20.020(2)) while in your presence, at your direction or request.
Product default: physical same-room paper ceremony. Remote or electronic options exist under Washington law. This guide covers the classic paper ceremony only. Do not market Zoom witnessing from this page without a dedicated product decision and primary-cite pass (VERIFY / out of scope).
Washington will witnesses
Washington wants two or more competent witnesses for a formal will (RCW 11.12.020).
Prefer disinterested competent witnesses. Do not invent an interested-gift voiding rule from another state's statute. Exact Washington voiding language is VERIFY. Practical guidance still stands: heirs as sole pens invite contests.
Do you need a notary for a Washington will
For validity under RCW 11.12.020: no.
Witness affidavits under RCW 11.20.020(2) are a proof aid. Courts may accept them as if the affidavits were taken before the court. Frame that as proof, not as "Texas self-proving form culture," and not as "no witnesses needed."
Confusing a witness affidavit with skipping witnesses is how DIY estates become expensive stories.
Washington will mistakes that hurt later
- Handwritten unwitnessed "holographic" DIY in Washington. RCW 11.12.020 wants two witnesses. No in-state unwitnessed holographic path.
- Marketing Zoom witnessing without VERIFY / product scope. Electronic presence exists in statute. This page does not sell it.
- Confusing witness affidavit with "no witnesses needed." RCW 11.20.020(2) is a proof aid that rides on attestation.
- Assuming notary alone validates. Notary is not required for RCW 11.12.020 validity.
Are holographic wills valid in Washington
Washington does not provide an in-state unwitnessed holographic path under RCW 11.12.020. Two competent witnesses are required for the formal will this guide covers.
A foreign-wills proviso may honor a will that was valid where executed or where the testator was domiciled. That is educational FAQ context for out-of-state instruments, not a DIY tip for Washington residents writing at home without witnesses.
How Killswitch helps with a Washington will
Killswitch drafts your Washington will and prints signing instructions for the two-witness paper ceremony under RCW 11.12.020.
Free to write and read. Pay once for the finished copy. You still run the ceremony. We do not notarize. We are not your lawyer. We do not sell remote e-will flows from this page.
Free to write and read. Pay once for the finished copy. Signing instructions for your state print on the document.
Check signing requirements by state · Full Washington estate planning hub
Frequently asked questions
How many witnesses for a Washington will
Two or more competent witnesses under RCW 11.12.020 for a formal will.
Do I need a notary for a Washington will
No, a notary is not required for validity under RCW 11.12.020. Witness affidavits under RCW 11.20.020(2) can serve as a proof aid.
Does Washington allow holographic wills
Washington does not provide an in-state unwitnessed holographic path under RCW 11.12.020. Two witnesses are required for the formal path this page covers. Foreign-wills rules may honor certain out-of-state instruments (educational only).
What is a Washington self-proving will
Prefer "witness affidavit" language. Under RCW 11.20.020(2), attesting-witness affidavits may be accepted as if taken before the court. That is a proof aid, not a substitute for witnesses.
Can I use electronic or remote witnessing in Washington
Electronic presence exists in Washington statute. This guide covers the classic paper ceremony only. Treat remote or electronic wills as VERIFY / out of scope unless counsel and a dedicated product path say otherwise.
Sources
WA will
Start your Washington will in plain English.
Free to write and read. Pay once for the finished copy. Signing instructions for your state print on the document.
Killswitch is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is educational information about Washington statutes, not advice about your situation. Laws change. Read the cited sources and talk to a licensed attorney if your estate is complicated (business, trust, fight already in progress, or anything that already has lawyers in it). We put signing instructions on your document in plain English. You still have to follow your state's rules when you sign.
