Last Will and Testament in Wisconsin
A simple will form for straightforward estates. A will is valid only if it is signed and witnessed exactly as your state requires (below); one that is not executed correctly may be ignored by the court. Larger estates, blended families, trusts for minor children or business interests are worth a lawyer's review.
What Wisconsin law says
| Requirements for a valid will | 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. The remote-witnessing option was added by 2023 Wis. Act 130. Wisconsin also provides a fill-in 'Wisconsin basic will' and 'basic will with trust' (Wis. Stat. §§ 853.50 to 853.62). |
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| Self-proving affidavit | 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. Source: Wis. Stat. § 853.04 |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | 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. Source: Wis. Stat. § 853.03; § 853.05 |
Fill it in
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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF [your full name]
I, [your full name], of [city, county and state], being of sound mind, make this my will and revoke all earlier wills and codicils.
1. Executor. I name [executor name] as personal representative (executor). If they cannot serve, I name [alternate executor name].
2. Specific gifts. I give [item or amount] to [beneficiary name].
3. Everything else. I give the rest of my property to [beneficiaries and shares]. If a beneficiary does not survive me by 30 days, their share goes to [alternate beneficiary].
4. Guardian. If I have minor children, I name [guardian name] as guardian, and [alternate guardian name] as alternate.
Signed on [date signed] at [city and state]. Signature: ____________________
Witnesses: we signed below in the presence of the person making this will and of each other, as required by state law. Witness 1: [witness 1 name and address] ____________ Witness 2: [witness 2 name and address] ____________
[Notary or self-proving affidavit, if your state provides one]
Last Will and Testament for other states · Wisconsin tenant rights
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.