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. Michigan recognizes two kinds of valid wills, 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.
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, but they’re more often contested and easy to get wrong (people forget the date, or type the material portions), so they’re a reasonable emergency backup rather than the ideal plan.
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.
- It makes Michigan probate smoother and reduces the risk of delay.
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.
So the accurate way to say it: the will itself doesn’t need notarization, but the optional self-proving affidavit does — and for a typed will, it’s well worth doing.
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.
- To make probate easier: Yes — add a self-proving affidavit to a typed will, which is notarized. Optional but recommended.
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. Adding the affidavit removes that hassle.
The trap: notarized but not witnessed
The most damaging mistake is the familiar one: typing up a will, signing it in front of a notary, and skipping the two witnesses, thinking the notary “makes it official.”
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).
- Michigan does not void a will merely because an interested person (someone who inherits) served as a witness, but using disinterested witnesses avoids any argument about influence.
- 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) — recommended
- [ ] Self-proving affidavit signed by you + witnesses before a notary — optional but smart
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). Fix it:
- Don’t rely on it. The notary stamp won’t carry a typed will through Michigan probate.
- Re-execute it properly — print it and sign in front of two competent witnesses.
- Make it self-proved at the same signing by adding the notarized affidavit — Michigan lets you combine these steps.
- Use disinterested witnesses (people who don’t inherit) to avoid any challenge.
Redoing it costs nothing if you handle the signing yourself, and it closes a gap that could otherwise undo your wishes.
What about electronic and online wills in Michigan?
A few practical notes for 2026:
- The safe, well-tested path in Michigan is still a paper will, signed in wet ink, with two witnesses present. Electronic-will law is newer and far less tested in Michigan probate, so for something this important the traditional route avoids arguments later.
- 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. Don’t skip that step — the document isn’t valid until it’s signed and witnessed correctly, however polished the website looks.
When in doubt, sign a typed will on paper with two disinterested witnesses and a notarized self-proving affidavit. It’s inexpensive, certain, and exactly what Michigan probate courts expect.
The honest takeaway
A will does not have to be notarized in Michigan to be valid. A typed will needs two witnesses; a handwritten will that’s dated, signed, and mostly in your handwriting needs none. The most damaging mistake is treating a notary stamp as a substitute for witnesses on a typed will, which produces an invalid will. Get the witnesses right, then add the optional notarized self-proving affidavit — Michigan lets you do it in the same signing — so the probate court can admit your will without delay.
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, and a valid holographic will needs neither witnesses nor a notary. Notarization only matters for the optional self-proving affidavit.
Are handwritten wills legal in Michigan?
Yes — Michigan recognizes holographic wills that are dated, signed, and have their material portions in your own handwriting. They’re valid but easier to challenge than a typed, witnessed will.
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 required witnesses. A notarized-but-unwitnessed typed will is invalid; only a valid handwritten will 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).