Will Requirements in Wisconsin
A Wisconsin will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and signed by at least two witnesses, unwitnessed handwritten wills are not recognized, and an attached affidavit makes the will self-proved.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Wisconsin at a glance
- Witnesses
- 2 witnesses
- Self-proving affidavit
- Allowed
- Handwritten (holographic) wills
- Not recognized
The rules in Wisconsin
How many witnesses does a will need in Wisconsin?
A will in Wisconsin must be signed in front of two witnesses, who sign it too.
Can a will be self-proved in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin allows a self-proving affidavit, which lets a court accept the will without calling the witnesses to testify.
Is a handwritten will valid in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin does not recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills made under its own law.
Where do the Wisconsin rules for wills come from?
They come from Wis. Stat. 853.03, Wis. Stat. 853.05 and Wis. Stat. 856.16 Self-proved will. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Wisconsin compares
27 jurisdictions recognize handwritten wills; Wisconsin 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.