How to Make a Valid Will in Hawaii
What Hawaii law requires for a valid will: age, signing, witnesses, handwritten wills and self-proving affidavits.
Short answer: Anyone 18 or older and of sound mind may make a will. A will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another person in the testator's conscious presence and at the testator's direction), and signed by at least two witnesses, each of whom signs within a reasonable time after… Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 560:2-501, 560:2-502(a)
| Requirements for a valid will | Anyone 18 or older and of sound mind may make a will. A will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another person in the testator's conscious presence and at the testator's direction), and signed by at least two witnesses, each of whom signs within a reasonable time after seeing the testator sign or hearing the testator acknowledge the signature or the will. |
|---|---|
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Yes. A will that is not witnessed is valid as a holographic will if the signature and the material portions of the document are in the testator's handwriting. Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:2-502(b) |
| Self-proving affidavit | Yes. A will can be made self-proved, at signing or later, by the testator's acknowledgment and the witnesses' affidavits made before a notary or other officer authorized to administer oaths, in substantially the statutory form. Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:2-504 |
More Hawaii estate law
- Medical Power of Attorney in Hawaii
- Small Estate Affidavit in Hawaii
- Power of Attorney in Hawaii
- Quitclaim Deeds and Transferring Property in Hawaii
- Who Inherits If You Die Without a Will in Hawaii
- How Probate Works in Hawaii
- Living Wills and Advance Directives in Hawaii
- Revocable Living Trusts in Hawaii
- Executor Duties in Hawaii
- Letters Testamentary in Hawaii
- Affidavit of Heirship in Hawaii
- How to Avoid Probate in Hawaii
- Transferring a Car After Someone Dies in Hawaii
- All Hawaii wills, probate and estate rules
FAQ
What makes a will valid in Hawaii?
Anyone 18 or older and of sound mind may make a will. A will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another person in the testator's conscious presence and at the testator's direction), and signed by at least two witnesses, each of whom signs within a reasonable time after seeing the testator sign or hearing the testator acknowledge the signature or the will.
Is a handwritten will valid in Hawaii?
Yes. A will that is not witnessed is valid as a holographic will if the signature and the material portions of the document are in the testator's handwriting.
Does a will need to be notarized in Hawaii?
Yes. A will can be made self-proved, at signing or later, by the testator's acknowledgment and the witnesses' affidavits made before a notary or other officer authorized to administer oaths, in substantially the statutory form.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.