Will Requirements in Iowa
An Iowa will must be signed and declared by the testator and witnessed by two competent persons who sign in each other's presence, can be made self-proved, and holographic wills are not recognized.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Iowa at a glance
- Witnesses
- 2 witnesses
- Self-proving affidavit
- Allowed
- Handwritten (holographic) wills
- Not recognized
The rules in Iowa
How many witnesses does a will need in Iowa?
A will in Iowa must be signed in front of two witnesses, who sign it too.
Can a will be self-proved in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa allows a self-proving affidavit, which lets a court accept the will without calling the witnesses to testify.
Is a handwritten will valid in Iowa?
No. Iowa does not recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills made under its own law.
Where do the Iowa rules for wills come from?
They come from Iowa Code 633.279. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Iowa compares
27 jurisdictions recognize handwritten wills; Iowa 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.