Will Requirements in Maryland
Maryland requires a written will signed by the testator and attested by two credible witnesses, and recognizes handwritten unwitnessed wills only for members of the U.S. armed services who sign them outside the United States.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Maryland at a glance
- Witnesses
- 2 witnesses
- Self-proving affidavit
- No statutory procedure
- Handwritten (holographic) wills
- Limited cases only
- Only for a limited group, such as members of the armed forces or mariners
Sources
- Md. Code, Estates and Trusts 4-102
- Md. Code, Estates and Trusts 4-103 (holographic wills)
- Md. Code, Estates and Trusts 5-303 (assumption of due execution)
- Fiscal and Policy Note, SB 519 (2021) proposed self-proving will
- Maryland General Assembly, SB 519 (2021 Regular Session) bill status
Last checked
The rules in Maryland
How many witnesses does a will need in Maryland?
A will in Maryland must be signed in front of two witnesses, who sign it too.
Can a will be self-proved in Maryland?
Maryland law has no self-proving affidavit procedure for wills.
Is a handwritten will valid in Maryland?
Only in limited cases. Maryland allows unwitnessed wills only for a limited group, such as members of the armed forces or mariners.
Where do the Maryland rules for wills come from?
They come from Md. Code, Estates and Trusts 4-102, Md. Code, Estates and Trusts 4-103, Md. Code, Estates and Trusts 5-303 and 2 other sources. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
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.