Is an Online Will Legal in Pennsylvania?
An online service can prepare a valid Pennsylvania will. Once printed and signed by the testator at the end, it is valid with no witnesses and no notary, the most permissive execution rule in the region; two witnesses are legally required only when the testator signs by mark or someone else signs for the testator.
The Answer at a Glance
Prepare the will online
ValidWhether a will drafted with online software can become a valid Pennsylvania will.
Sign it fully remotely
Paper signingWhether Pennsylvania recognizes an electronic will executed without an in-person paper signing.
What this means for you
Skipping witnesses is legal but costs the estate later: probate still requires the oaths of two competent witnesses, so sign before two adults anyway and add the 20 Pa.C.S. § 3132.1 self-proving affidavit so the register can accept the affidavit instead of hunting down live witnesses. And keep every word above your signature; anything below it is ignored.
What Pennsylvania Law Requires
The governing law is 20 Pa.C.S. ch. 25 (Wills); proof at probate at 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3132, 3132.1. Each rule below links to the official source it was read from.
| Requirement | The Pennsylvania rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Who can make a will | Age 18 or older, sound mind. | 20 Pa.C.S. § 2501 |
| Written document | Required. | 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502 |
| Signature | The testator signs, at the end of the will. If the testator is unable to sign his or her name or to make a mark for any reason, the will may be signed with the testator's name by another, in the testator's presence and by the testator's express direction, and the testator must declare the instrument to be his or her will in the presence of two witnesses who sign their names to it in the testator's presence. A testator who cannot sign but can make a mark may sign by mark (with the name subscribed before or after the mark is made), made in the presence of two witnesses who sign the will in the testator's presence. | 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502 |
| Witnesses | No attesting witnesses are required for validity when the testator signs his or her own name: 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502 requires only a writing signed by the testator at the end. Two witnesses, signing in the testator's presence, are required only when the testator signs by mark or another person signs for the testator. | 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502; 20 Pa.C.S. § 3132 |
| Notarization | Not required for validity. A self-proving affidavit is optional and speeds probate. | 20 Pa.C.S. § 3132.1 |
Signing Day in Pennsylvania
No attesting witnesses are required for validity when the testator signs his or her own name: 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502 requires only a writing signed by the testator at the end. Two witnesses, signing in the testator's presence, are required only when the testator signs by mark or another person signs for the testator.
Witnesses return at probate: every Pennsylvania will must be proved by the oaths or affirmations of two competent witnesses (20 Pa.C.S. § 3132). For a will the testator signed, subscribing witnesses are preferred to the extent readily available, and proof of the testator's signature is preferred to proof of a subscribing witness's signature, so the proving witnesses need not have watched the signing. Most practitioners still use two subscribing witnesses plus the § 3132.1 self-proving affidavit.
The self-proving step worth adding
The register accepts the witness affidavit as proof of the facts stated, as if made under oath at probate, unless the will's validity is contested or the will was signed by mark or by another under § 2502 (those wills must be proved by subscribing witnesses). Timing: at execution or at any time afterwards.
Choose witnesses carefully
Pennsylvania has no interested-witness disqualification or purging statute: the former witness section, 20 Pa.C.S. § 2504, was repealed December 10, 1974, attesting witnesses are not required for an ordinary signed will, and the two-witness proof at probate may come from any competent witnesses, interested or not.
Shortcuts Pennsylvania Does and Does Not Recognize
Handwritten (holographic) wills
YesPennsylvania has no separate holographic category: a will entirely in the testator's handwriting is valid on the same terms as any other will, in writing and signed by the testator at the end (20 Pa.C.S. § 2502), with no attesting witnesses required. At probate it must still be proved by the oaths or affirmations of two competent witnesses, for a signed will typically by proving the testator's signature (§ 3132).
Because the rule is § 2502 itself, a handwritten will gains nothing from being handwritten; the signature-at-the-end requirement applies with full force. (20 Pa.C.S. § 2502)
Oral wills
NoNuncupative wills are no longer valid in Pennsylvania: the authorizing section, 20 Pa.C.S. § 2503, was repealed December 10, 1974 (P.L.867, No.293), and § 2502 requires every will to be in writing. The matching probate paragraph, § 3132(3), was repealed the same day. (20 Pa.C.S. § 2503 (repealed); 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502)
Electronic wills
NoPennsylvania has no electronic-wills statute: 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502 requires every will to be in writing and signed by the testator at the end, and Title 20 contains no provision authorizing an electronic record or electronic signature as a will. (20 Pa.C.S. § 2502)
Remote witnessing: not recognized.
A Will Signed in Another State
A will is validly executed if executed in compliance with 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502, or in compliance with the law of the jurisdiction where the testator was domiciled at the time of execution or at the time of death. The statute names no place-of-execution alternative, but because § 2502 itself demands only a writing signed at the end, most wills validly executed elsewhere satisfy it directly. (20 Pa.C.S. § 2504.1)
Keep Going
- The full Pennsylvania will-requirements guide covers capacity, revocation, and what happens when formalities fail.
- Pennsylvania estate planning sets the will beside the other documents a complete plan needs.
- A Pennsylvania revocable living trust is the main alternative when avoiding probate is the goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make my will online in Pennsylvania?
Does a Pennsylvania will need to be notarized?
How many witnesses does a Pennsylvania will need?
Are handwritten (holographic) wills valid in Pennsylvania?
Are electronic wills legal in Pennsylvania?
Is a will made in another state valid in Pennsylvania?
SourcesOfficial references used for this page
Verified against 20 Pa.C.S. ch. 25 (Wills); proof at probate at 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3132, 3132.1 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 Pennsylvania can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
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