{"id":1357,"date":"2019-04-11T20:13:42","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T20:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-estate-planning\/?p=1357"},"modified":"2022-08-30T14:13:56","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T14:13:56","slug":"arizona-holographic-will-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-estate-planning\/blog\/arizona-holographic-will-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Holographic Will Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02503.htm\">holographic will<\/a> is another term for a handwritten last will and testament. While some states don\u2019t recognize holographic wills, the state of Arizona accepts handwritten wills as long as they adhere to the state\u2019s probate laws. The laws regarding holographic wills are slightly more relaxed than the laws regarding a traditional will, and include the following requirements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The testator (aka the person writing the will) is 18 or older<\/li>\n<li>The testator has a sound mind<\/li>\n<li>The signature and material provisions of the will are in the testator\u2019s handwriting<\/li>\n<li>The will wasn\u2019t drafted under undue pressure or influence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Age<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02501.htm\">ARS 14-2501<\/a> states that only \u201ca person who is eighteen years of age or older\u201d can make a will.<\/p>\n<p>This is pretty straightforward since minors can\u2019t own property, so they can\u2019t bequeath assets by will.<\/p>\n<h2>Testamentary Capacity<\/h2>\n<p>In common law, \u201ctestamentary capacity\u201d is the legal term that\u2019s used to describe an adult\u2019s legal and mental ability to draft, sign, or amend a valid will. Testamentary capacity is often described as a \u201csound mind and memory\u201d or \u201cdisposing mind and memory.\u201d Under the definition, adults who are partially or fully mentally incapacitated are precluded from writing a will. Generally speaking, mental incapacitation includes adults who are in a coma, are suffering from advanced stages of dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s disease, or who have an illness, injury, or disability that severely limits their mental faculties.<\/p>\n<p>Note that incapacitated adults aren\u2019t able to issue any legally binding estate planning documents, including a power of attorney, a living will, or a trust. Instead, an incapacitated adult would need a court-appointed guardian or conservator to manage their assets and affairs on their behalf. A guardian or conservator wouldn\u2019t be able to draft a will, but he or she could accomplish the same task by establishing a living trust to transfer property to beneficiaries when the adult passes away.<\/p>\n<h2>Matching the Testator\u2019s Handwriting<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02503.htm\">ARS 14-2503<\/a> dictates that holographic wills are valid \u201cif the signature and the material provisions are in the handwriting of the testator.\u201d Material provisions include any clauses in the will that name beneficiaries and their gifts. The testator is also required to include wording that indicates that he or she intends and wishes to dispose of their property with the writing. The court will usually compare the holographic will to other documents written by the testator to verify their handwriting and authenticate the will.<\/p>\n<h2>Undue Pressure or Influence<\/h2>\n<p>If the testator was pressured, manipulated, or blackmailed into writing part or all of the will, the court will invalidate the will. Fraudulent wills with forged material provisions and\/or signatures are invalid, too. Unfortunately, most cases that involve undue pressure or influence involve elder abuse by a family member or close friend.<\/p>\n<h2>Witness Requirements<\/h2>\n<p>While it\u2019s certainly recommended to have your holographic will signed by two witnesses, it\u2019s not required for handwritten wills. In contrast, a typed will requires the signatures of two witnesses (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02502.htm\">ARS 14-2502<\/a>). In either case, the court may call on witnesses to appear in court and testify to the authenticity of the will.<\/p>\n<p>Note that while some states require \u201cdisinterested\u201d witnesses, Arizona law does not (a disinterested witness is someone who is not listed as a beneficiary in the will). That said, it\u2019s always recommended to use disinterested witnesses to avoid any conflicts of interest that could tie up probate court proceedings if someone contests the will. Such a will contest would likely fail, but it can still prolong the probate process and delay the transfer of assets to intended beneficiaries.<\/p>\n<h2>Self-proved Wills<\/h2>\n<p>To qualify as a self-proved will, the document must be signed by two witnesses and notarized (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02504.htm\">ARS 14-2504<\/a>). Again, witnesses aren\u2019t required for holographic wills, but the benefit of a self-proved will is that the court won\u2019t need to summon your witnesses to court to authenticate the will. This can really speed up the probate process, which is always a good thing for your beneficiaries.<\/p>\n<h2>What happens if a Will is Invalidated?<\/h2>\n<p>When a will is invalidated by a probate judge, the probate process for the testator\u2019s estate continues as if the decedent didn\u2019t leave a will. Estates that aren\u2019t covered by a will are referred to as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02101.htm\">intestate<\/a>,\u201d and the estate\u2019s assets will be distributed to the decedent\u2019s legal heirs according to the state\u2019s intestacy laws. If select portions of the will are invalidated, then only the provisions that are invalidated are subject to intestacy laws.<\/p>\n<h2>Intestate Succession<\/h2>\n<p>In the state of Arizona, the surviving spouse and children have a priority claim to intestate assets (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02102.htm\">ARS 14-2102<\/a>). If the decedent was married and only had children with his or her surviving spouse, then the entire estate would go to the spouse. If the decedent was married and had children with another partner, the surviving spouse would receive half of the estate, and the remaining half would pass to the children from the separate relationship(s).<\/p>\n<p>In cases where the decedent doesn\u2019t have a surviving spouse, the distribution rules can get a little tricky. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02103.htm\">ARS 14-2103<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/14\/02105.htm\">14-2105<\/a>, the estate will pass to the decedent\u2019s legal heirs in the following priority:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To the decedent\u2019s descendants by representation (includes children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>If there are no surviving descendants, to the decedent\u2019s parent(s)<\/li>\n<li>If there are no surviving descendants or parents, to the decedent\u2019s siblings by representation (includes nieces and nephews)<\/li>\n<li>If there are no surviving descendants, parents, or siblings, to the decedent\u2019s grandparents by representation (includes aunts, uncles, and cousins)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If there are no surviving legal heirs, or if the court cannot contact the surviving heirs, the state may claim the estate. After an estate has been claimed by the state, a previously unknown heir may come forward to claim the estate but known heirs who were served notice and repeatedly failed to respond typically forfeit their claim to the estate.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Provisions in a Will<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you choose to type or hand-write your will, be sure to include the following key provisions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>State your intent and wish to dispose of your property with the will<\/li>\n<li>Name a guardian for minor children or adult children with a disability<\/li>\n<li>Nominate a personal representative to manage your estate<\/li>\n<li>Clearly identify your beneficiaries (include at least their full legal name and date of birth)<\/li>\n<li>Clearly bequeath all assets that are subject to probate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Call Arizona Estate Attorney Dave Weed at <a href=\"tel:4804674325\">(480)467-4325<\/a> to discuss your case today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction A holographic will is another term for a handwritten last will and testament. While some states don\u2019t recognize holographic wills, the state of Arizona accepts handwritten wills as long as they adhere to the state\u2019s probate laws. The laws regarding holographic wills are slightly more relaxed than the laws regarding a traditional will, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Write a Holographic Will in Arizona - JacksonWhite Law<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you want to find information about holographic will laws in Arizona? 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