Will Requirements in Illinois
An Illinois will must be signed by the testator and attested by two or more credible witnesses, it can be admitted on the witnesses' attestation clause or affidavit without live testimony, and unwitnessed handwritten wills are not valid.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Illinois at a glance
- Witnesses
- 2 witnesses
- Self-proving affidavit
- Witness affidavit
- Allows a self-proving affidavit signed by the witnesses; no notary required
- Handwritten (holographic) wills
- Not recognized
The rules in Illinois
How many witnesses does a will need in Illinois?
A will in Illinois must be signed in front of two witnesses, who sign it too.
Can a will be self-proved in Illinois?
Yes, through the witnesses. Illinois allows a self-proving affidavit signed by the witnesses; no notary required.
Is a handwritten will valid in Illinois?
No. Illinois does not recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills made under its own law.
Where do the Illinois rules for wills come from?
They come from 755 ILCS 5/4-3 (Signing and attestation) and 755 ILCS 5/6-4 (Admission of will to probate; testimony or affidavit of witnesses). We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Illinois compares
27 jurisdictions recognize handwritten wills; Illinois is not one of them, so a will made there should be witnessed.
What this means in practice
Sign the will in front of all the witnesses at the same time and have them sign right after you. Many people choose adult witnesses who receive nothing under the will, which avoids questions later.
Keep the signed original somewhere safe and tell your executor where it is. A copy is usually not enough to probate a will.
Changing a will later takes the same formalities: sign a codicil or a new will with witnesses, rather than writing changes on the original.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.