SELF-PROVING WILL

A will created in such a way that a probate court will be able to decide that a will is valid as that of the decedent. In most states a self-proving will includes the signature of two witnesses who sign under penalty of perjury that they watched the will maker sign the will and that the maker told them that the document was his or her will. If the will is uncontested, the probate court will accept the will without needing testimony of witnesses or other evidence. States have various requirements for a self-proving will, including the notarized signatures of the witnesses or other requirements.