

If your state gives you the option to add a self-proving affidavit to your Will, do it. In North Carolina, the statute is Chapter 31, Article 4A of the North Carolina General Statutes. For example, in Texas, the statute that outlines the requirements of a self-proving affidavit is Section 251.104 of the Texas Estates Code. The states that require self-proving affidavits to prove up a Will have statutes that dictate the language the affidavit should include. There is no need to add a separate affidavit. There are also a handful of other states in which simply observing the proper formalities when you and your witnesses signed the Will will result in the Will being self-proved. The District of Columbia and Ohio do not, as I recently found out while reviewing the Will of a client who had recently moved from Ohio. Not every state gives testators the option to add self-proving affidavits to their Wills. A will allows you to exercise control over the disposition of your property. While the law does not require anyone to make a will, if you do not have one, then upon your death your property will be distributed as provided by state law. Where Can I Find a Self-Proving Affidavit? Making a Last Will and Testament is the key to preparing an estate plan. This can be can save time and expense, especially in situations when witnesses die, become incompetent, or move away.

whether the testator signed the Will voluntarily and not under duress.Ī self-proving affidavit verifies that the Will is authentic without the need for testimony during a probate proceeding.whether the testator was of sound mind and.whether the testator’s signature is genuine.Proving up a Will during probate requires witnesses to testify about: However, having a self-proved Will is beneficial because it eliminates the need for witnesses to appear in a probate proceeding to prove the Will is valid. The absence of a self-proving affidavit does not invalidate a Will. Is it Necessary to Include a Self-Proving Affidavit? The self-proving affidavit affirms that the testator properly signed the Will in the presence of two witnesses. In the case of an attested Will, the testator and all witnesses sign it in the presence of a notary. A self-proving affidavit is a sworn statement that accompanies a Will.
