How to Make a Valid Will in Wisconsin

Any person of sound mind who is 18 or older may make a will. The will must be in writing and signed by the testator (or by another person at the testator's direction and in the testator's conscious presence). At least two witnesses must sign within a reasonable time after seeing the testator sign, or after the testator acknowledges the signature or the will, in the witness's conscious presence; the two witnesses may observe at different times. Witnessing by real-time two-way audio-video is allowed if the signing is supervised by a Wisconsin-licensed attorney, everyone is physically in Wisconsin, the will states it is executed under this procedure, and the other statutory steps are followed. A will validly executed under the law of the place where it was signed, or of the testator's residence or domicile, is also valid.

No. Wisconsin does not recognize handwritten (holographic) wills that lack two witnesses; every will must meet the witnessing rules. A handwritten will signed in another state may be valid in Wisconsin if it was valid under the law of the place where it was signed or of the testator's residence or domicile.

Yes. A will may be made self-proved either at signing (one-step) or at any later time (two-step) by an affidavit of the testator and the witnesses sworn before an officer authorized to administer oaths, using the statutory form, with the officer's certificate under official seal.