Is an Online Will Legal in Michigan?
An online service can prepare a valid Michigan will. The reliable path is to print it and execute it under MCL 700.2502: the testator signs, and 2 witnesses sign within a reasonable time after witnessing the signing or the testator's acknowledgment. Michigan also accepts an unwitnessed holographic will that is dated with the signature and material portions in the testator's handwriting, but it recognizes no electronic wills and no remote witnessing.
The Answer at a Glance
Prepare the will online
ValidWhether a will drafted with online software can become a valid Michigan will.
Sign it fully remotely
Paper signingWhether Michigan recognizes an electronic will executed without an in-person paper signing.
What this means for you
Notarization is not required for validity, but adding the MCL 700.2504 self-proving affidavit at signing means nobody has to track down witnesses during probate. Michigan's harmless-error rule (MCL 700.2503) can rescue some defective documents, but it requires a court finding on clear and convincing evidence, so treat the witnessed paper signing as the plan, not the fallback.
What Michigan Law Requires
The governing law is Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.2501-700.2506. Each rule below links to the official source it was read from.
| Requirement | The Michigan rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Who can make a will | Age 18 or older, sufficient mental capacity. | MCL 700.2501 |
| Written document | Required. | MCL 700.2502(1)(a) |
| Signature | The testator signs. The will may be signed in the testator's name by some other individual in the testator's conscious presence and by the testator's direction. | MCL 700.2502(1)(b) |
| Witnesses | 2. At least 2 individuals must sign the will, each within a reasonable time after he or she witnessed either the signing of the will or the testator's acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will. The statute imposes no requirement that the witnesses sign in the testator's presence or in each other's presence. | MCL 700.2502(1)(c) |
| Notarization | Not required for validity. A self-proving affidavit is optional and speeds probate. | MCL 700.2504 |
Signing Day in Michigan
At least 2 individuals must sign the will, each within a reasonable time after he or she witnessed either the signing of the will or the testator's acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will. The statute imposes no requirement that the witnesses sign in the testator's presence or in each other's presence.
The self-proving step worth adding
Self-proof is optional: the will is valid without it. The statute provides affidavit forms for simultaneous execution, for later self-proof of an attested will, and for codicils. Timing: simultaneously with execution, or at any time after execution.
Choose witnesses carefully
An individual generally competent to be a witness may act as a witness to a will, and the signing of a will by an interested witness does not invalidate the will or any provision of it. Michigan has no purging rule.
Shortcuts Michigan Does and Does Not Recognize
Handwritten (holographic) wills
YesA will that does not comply with MCL 700.2502(1) is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if it is dated, and if the testator's signature and the document's material portions are in the testator's handwriting. Intent that the document constitutes the testator's will can be established by extrinsic evidence, including portions of the document that are not in the testator's handwriting.
The date is a statutory element in Michigan; an undated handwritten will does not qualify under § 2502(2) and would need the § 2503 harmless-error route instead. (MCL 700.2502(2)-(3))
Oral wills
NoEPIC has no nuncupative-will provision. A will must satisfy MCL 700.2502 (a written instrument, witnessed or holographic), and even the MCL 700.2503 harmless-error rule reaches only a document or writing, so spoken words cannot be given effect as a will. (MCL 700.2502)
Electronic wills
NoMichigan has no electronic-wills statute: EPIC requires a will to be in writing under MCL 700.2502(1)(a) and contains no provision authorizing electronic records, electronic signatures, or remote witnessing for wills. The only statutory flexibility is the MCL 700.2503 harmless-error rule, under which a probate court may treat a noncompliant document or writing as a will on clear and convincing evidence of testamentary intent, decided case by case rather than as a recognized execution path. (MCL 700.2502)
Remote witnessing: not recognized.
A Will Signed in Another State
A written will is valid if executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502 or 700.2503, with the law at the time of execution of the place where the will is executed, or with the law of the place where, at the time of execution or at the time of death, the testator is domiciled, has a place of abode, or is a national. (MCL 700.2506)
Keep Going
- The full Michigan will-requirements guide covers capacity, revocation, and what happens when formalities fail.
- Michigan estate planning sets the will beside the other documents a complete plan needs.
- A Michigan revocable living trust is the main alternative when avoiding probate is the goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make my will online in Michigan?
Does a Michigan will need to be notarized?
How many witnesses does a Michigan will need?
Are handwritten (holographic) wills valid in Michigan?
Are electronic wills legal in Michigan?
Is a will made in another state valid in Michigan?
SourcesOfficial references used for this page
Verified against Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.2501-700.2506 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 Michigan can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
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