Is an Online Will Legal in Connecticut?
An online service can prepare a valid Connecticut will, but execution is strictly on paper: the testator subscribes the will and two witnesses attest it, each subscribing in the testator's presence. Connecticut recognizes no holographic, oral, or electronic wills executed in the state, though a will valid under the law of the place where it was executed may be admitted here.
The Answer at a Glance
Prepare the will online
ValidWhether a will drafted with online software can become a valid Connecticut will.
Sign it fully remotely
Paper signingWhether Connecticut recognizes an electronic will executed without an in-person paper signing.
What this means for you
Choose disinterested witnesses: a gift to a subscribing witness or that witness's spouse is void unless the will stands without that witness's signature or the beneficiary is an heir of the testator. Notarization is optional; a § 45a-285 witness affidavit signed at execution saves the Probate Court from calling the witnesses later.
What Connecticut Law Requires
The governing law is Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 802a (Wills: Execution and Construction), §§ 45a-250 to 45a-267; proof of wills in ch. 802b, including § 45a-285. Each rule below links to the official source it was read from.
| Requirement | The Connecticut rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Who can make a will | Age 18 or older, sound mind. | C.G.S. § 45a-250 |
| Written document | Required. | C.G.S. § 45a-251 |
| Signature | The testator signs. | C.G.S. § 45a-251 |
| Witnesses | 2. The will must be attested by two witnesses, each of them subscribing in the testator's presence. The statute does not require the witnesses to subscribe in each other's presence, and it does not require the testator to sign in the witnesses' presence. | C.G.S. § 45a-251 |
| Notarization | Not required for validity. A self-proving affidavit is optional and speeds probate. | C.G.S. § 45a-285 |
Signing Day in Connecticut
The will must be attested by two witnesses, each of them subscribing in the testator's presence. The statute does not require the witnesses to subscribe in each other's presence, and it does not require the testator to sign in the witnesses' presence.
The annotations printed with § 45a-251 confirm both points: it is unnecessary that witnesses subscribe in each other's presence, and the order in which testator and witnesses subscribe is immaterial.
The self-proving step worth adding
Under § 45a-285 any or all attesting witnesses may sign an affidavit stating the facts they would be required to testify to in court to prove the will. It is written on the will or, if impracticable, on a paper attached to it, and the Probate Court accepts the sworn statement as if it had been taken before the court. Timing: at the request of the testator during life (commonly at execution) or, after death, at the request of the executor or any person interested under the will.
Choose witnesses carefully
Every devise or bequest given in any will or codicil to a subscribing witness, or to the husband or wife of a subscribing witness, is void unless the will is legally attested without that witness's signature, or unless the devisee or legatee is an heir to the testator.
Shortcuts Connecticut Does and Does Not Recognize
Handwritten (holographic) wills
NoAn unwitnessed handwritten will executed in Connecticut fails § 45a-251's requirement of attestation by two witnesses, each subscribing in the testator's presence. The same section's recognition clause covers 'any will executed according to the laws of the state or country where it was executed', so a holographic will validly made in a jurisdiction that allows them may be admitted to probate in Connecticut; the annotations printed with the section record a holographic will executed in France being upheld. (C.G.S. § 45a-251)
Oral wills
NoOral wills are invalid: § 45a-251 makes a will valid to pass property only if it is in writing, subscribed by the testator, and attested by two witnesses, and Connecticut has no nuncupative-will statute. The annotations printed with the section state that an oral or nuncupative will is invalid. (C.G.S. § 45a-251)
Electronic wills
NoConnecticut has no electronic-wills statute: § 45a-251 requires a written will subscribed by the testator and attested by two witnesses each subscribing in the testator's presence, and chapter 802a contains no provision authorizing electronic records, electronic signatures, or remote witnessing for wills. (C.G.S. § 45a-251)
Remote witnessing: not recognized.
A Will Signed in Another State
Any will executed according to the laws of the state or country where it was executed may be admitted to probate in Connecticut and is effectual to pass any property of the testator situated in Connecticut. The test is the law of the place of execution; the statute names no domicile-based alternative. (C.G.S. § 45a-251)
Keep Going
- The full Connecticut will-requirements guide covers capacity, revocation, and what happens when formalities fail.
- Connecticut estate planning sets the will beside the other documents a complete plan needs.
- A Connecticut revocable living trust is the main alternative when avoiding probate is the goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make my will online in Connecticut?
Does a Connecticut will need to be notarized?
How many witnesses does a Connecticut will need?
Are handwritten (holographic) wills valid in Connecticut?
Are electronic wills legal in Connecticut?
Is a will made in another state valid in Connecticut?
SourcesOfficial references used for this page
Verified against Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 802a (Wills: Execution and Construction), §§ 45a-250 to 45a-267; proof of wills in ch. 802b, including § 45a-285 on August 16, 2026
Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in Connecticut can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
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