Educational guide — not legal advice. Will-execution rules are state-specific and change over time. Confirm current requirements with a licensed Michigan attorney before relying on them.
The short answer
No — a will does not have to be notarized in Michigan to be valid. MCL 700.2502 recognizes two kinds of valid will, and neither one requires a notary.
1. An attested (typed) will — MCL 700.2502(1)
- In writing
- Signed by you (the testator), or by someone at your direction in your presence
- Signed by at least two witnesses, each within a reasonable time after watching you sign the will (or acknowledge your signature or the will)
Notarization is not required. A typed will signed by you and two witnesses is valid in Michigan under MCL 700.2502.
2. A holographic (handwritten) will — MCL 700.2502(2)
Michigan honors a handwritten will. It’s valid — with no witnesses and no notary — if:
- It is dated,
- Signed by you, and
- Its material portions are in your own handwriting.
Holographic wills are legal in Michigan. MCL 700.2502 requires a holographic will to be dated and the material portions and signature to be in the testator’s handwriting; a document missing the date, or with those portions typed, falls outside the provision.
The Michigan twist: the self-proving affidavit (this one is notarized)
Here’s where a notary actually helps. Michigan uses a self-proving affidavit (MCL 700.2504), and that document is notarized.
A self-proving affidavit is a short sworn statement, signed by you and your two witnesses in front of a notary, confirming the will was properly executed. The benefit:
- When your will goes to the probate court, the court can admit it without contacting your witnesses — no tracking people down years later.
Michigan lets you make the will self-proved at the same time you sign it, combining your signature, the witnesses’ signatures, and the notarization. Most attorney-drafted Michigan wills are done this way.
Stated precisely: the will itself doesn’t need notarization, but the optional self-proving affidavit does.
So do you need a notary or not?
- For validity: No notary required. Sign a typed will with two witnesses, or write one entirely by hand with the material portions in your handwriting, dated and signed.
- For the self-proving affidavit: a notary, because MCL 700.2504 prescribes an affidavit sworn before an officer authorized to administer oaths. It is optional.
A Michigan will without a self-proving affidavit is still completely valid; it just means your witnesses (for a typed will) may need to confirm it at probate.
A notarized but unwitnessed typed will
A will typed, signed before a notary and not witnessed does not meet the execution requirements set out above. A notary’s acknowledgement is not among them.
A typed will that’s notarized but not witnessed is not valid in Michigan — the notary doesn’t replace the two witnesses required by MCL 700.2502(1). (The only no-witness option is a valid holographic will, which must be dated, signed, with material portions in your handwriting — a typed document doesn’t qualify.) If you want a typed will, you need the two witnesses.
Who can witness a Michigan will?
- Witnesses must be generally competent (adults of sound mind) — MCL 700.2502.
- Michigan does not void a will merely because an interested person (someone who inherits) served as a witness.
- Witnesses should sign within a reasonable time after watching you sign or acknowledge the will.
Quick checklist for a valid Michigan will
- [ ] In writing (typed, or dated and handwritten with material portions in your hand)
- [ ] Signed by you
- [ ] For a typed will: two competent witnesses sign (not needed for a valid holographic will)
- [ ] Witnesses are disinterested (don’t inherit) — not a requirement of the execution statute
- [ ] Self-proving affidavit signed by you + witnesses before a notary — optional under MCL 700.2504
What to do if your will is notarized but not witnessed
If you typed a will and signed it in front of a notary without two witnesses, treat the typed version as invalid in Michigan (unless it happens to be dated with material portions in your own handwriting, which would make it a valid holographic will). What the statutes leave available:
- Re-execution under MCL 700.2502(1) — signature before two witnesses, each of whom signs within a reasonable time after witnessing the signing or the testator’s acknowledgement.
- A holographic will under MCL 700.2502(2), dated, signed, and with its material portions in the testator’s handwriting, which requires neither witnesses nor a notary.
Re-execution carries no statutory fee; the cost is whatever an attorney or service charges, if one is used.
What about electronic and online wills in Michigan?
A few practical notes for 2026:
- Michigan has no electronic-wills statute. The execution requirements set out above are written for a signed paper document.
- Remote online notarization may be available for the self-proving affidavit, but remember notarization isn’t what makes a will valid — it only matters for the affidavit, and it never substitutes for the witnesses on a typed will.
- If you use an online will service, it will still instruct you to print, sign, and witness the final document in front of two people. The document is not executed until that step is completed.
What the record shows
Michigan does not require a will to be notarised. A typed will requires the testator’s signature and two witnesses under MCL 700.2502(1). A holographic will that is dated, signed, and whose material portions are in the testator’s handwriting is valid without witnesses under MCL 700.2502(2). Notarisation appears only in the optional self-proving affidavit under MCL 700.2504, which may be executed at the same time as the will and permits admission without witness testimony. A notary’s acknowledgement does not substitute for the two witnesses a typed will requires.
Common questions
Is a will valid in Michigan without a notary?
Yes. A typed will signed before two competent witnesses is valid with no notary under MCL 700.2502, and a valid holographic will under the same section needs neither witnesses nor a notary. Notarization only matters for the optional self-proving affidavit (MCL 700.2504).
Are handwritten wills legal in Michigan?
Yes — MCL 700.2502 recognizes holographic wills that are dated, signed, and have their material portions in your own handwriting.
What is a self-proving affidavit in Michigan?
A notarized statement signed by you and your witnesses confirming the will was executed properly. It lets the probate court admit the will without witness testimony. Michigan lets you make the will self-proved at the same time you sign it.
Can I notarize my will instead of using witnesses?
No. For a typed will, a notary does not replace the two witnesses MCL 700.2502 requires. A notarized-but-unwitnessed typed will is invalid; only a valid handwritten will under the same section can skip witnesses.
Related reading
- How Much Does an Estate Plan Cost in Michigan?
- Do You Need a Living Trust in Michigan?
- Lady Bird Deed vs. Living Trust in Michigan
- Estate Planning in Michigan: The Complete Guide
- How to Write a Will (and What Makes It Valid)
Educational information only — not legal advice. Michigan will-execution rules are set by statute and can change; confirm current requirements with a licensed Michigan attorney before relying on them. Sources: MCL 700.2502, 700.2503, 700.2504; Michigan Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC).