Holographic Will

Updated: 11 March 2024

What Does Holographic Will Mean?

A holographic will is a handwritten will that is written entirely by a testator, but has not been signed by a required witness. Holographic wills are only legally valid in some states.

Since life insurance policies may be included in holographic wills, they are relevant to the insurance industry.

Insuranceopedia Explains Holographic Will

Holographic wills are not considered legitimate in many states because it can be difficult to prove that the testator is the actual author of the will. This can be especially difficult if the testator dies suddenly and did not have any witnesses to vouch for the will. In these cases, it can be difficult to rule out fraud.

Some states recognize the validity of holographic wills so long as certain requirements are met. For example, there may need to be some kind of proof that the testator wrote the will, the testator may need to have been considered of sound mind at the time of writing the will, and the testator’s assets must be dispersed in the will.

Related Reading

Go back to top