Legal Definitions - holographic will

A holographic will is a type of will that is written and signed by the person making the will, without the need for witnesses. This means that the person making the will writes it themselves, and signs it, without anyone else needing to be present.

Each state has different requirements for what makes a holographic will valid. For example:

• In Texas, the entire will must be written in the person's own handwriting. It does not need to be witnessed by anyone else.
• In Utah, as long as the signature and important parts of the will are in the person's own handwriting, it can be considered a valid holographic will.
• In New York, only certain people can make a valid holographic will, such as members of the armed forces during a war or conflict.

These examples show that holographic wills are different from regular wills because they do not require witnesses. However, each state has its own rules for what makes a holographic will valid, so it's important to check the laws in your state if you are considering making a holographic will.