Will Requirements in North Dakota
A North Dakota will must be signed by two witnesses or acknowledged before a notary, handwritten wills are valid without witnesses, and a will can be made self-proved with a notarized affidavit.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
North Dakota at a glance
- Witnesses
- 2 witnesses
- Self-proving affidavit
- Allowed
- Handwritten (holographic) wills
- Recognized
The rules in North Dakota
How many witnesses does a will need in North Dakota?
A will in North Dakota must be signed in front of two witnesses, who sign it too.
Can a will be self-proved in North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota allows a self-proving affidavit, which lets a court accept the will without calling the witnesses to testify.
Is a handwritten will valid in North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills that meet its requirements.
Where do the North Dakota rules for wills come from?
They come from N.D. Cent. Code ch. 30.1-08. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How North Dakota compares
North Dakota is one of 27 jurisdictions that recognize handwritten wills.
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.