--- title: "Georgia Will Signing Requirements: Witnesses & Notary | MCC" description: "Georgia will signing rules: 2 witnesses, beneficiary witnesses, the self-proving affidavit, handwritten wills, from the statute." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/will-signing-requirements-georgia" --- Will signing · Georgia # Georgia will signing requirements How many witnesses, who shouldn't witness, and what the statute says about the self-proving affidavit, handwritten wills, electronic wills and the minimum age. ✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials) **Short answer.** 2 witnesses. A self-proving affidavit is allowed. Handwritten wills: no. ## At a glance Witnesses Two witnesses, who watch the signing and also sign. The state's page says they shouldn't be beneficiaries. "must be signed in the presence of two witnesses, who must also sign the will." Beneficiary as witness A beneficiary who witnesses could lose the gift (Nolo, citing O.C.G.A. 53-4-23). "Neither witness should be a beneficiary of the will" Self-proving affidavit Allowed. The state aging division's brochure describes a self-proving affidavit that can remove the need for witness testimony at probate; it doesn't say who takes it. Handwritten wills Not recognized unless witnessed: Georgia.gov (updated June 2026) says a will must be signed in front of two witnesses, who also sign. It doesn't describe any handwritten-will exception. "The will must be signed in the presence of two witnesses, who must also sign the will." Electronic wills Not authorized, per Nolo's Georgia page (updated September 2025). "Georgia currently doesn't allow e-wills" Remote witnesses Not provided for: no Georgia law we found lets witnesses appear by video, and e-wills aren't authorized (Nolo's Georgia page, updated September 2025). Georgia.gov says the will is signed in the presence of two witnesses. Minimum age 14 or older, per the state aging division's brochure (revised 2016). "All persons 14 years of age and older may make a legally binding will." ## Worth knowing The state's page says a will doesn't have to be notarized or filed with the probate court in advance. After a death, whoever has the will must file it with the probate court. ## Signing day here - **Witnesses to bring:** Bring 2 witnesses. - **Notary and the self-proving affidavit:** The statute we read doesn't say who takes the affidavit. Ask the lawyer whether to have a notary there. The full list, with ID and who shouldn't witness: [signing-day checklist for Georgia](/notary/will-signing-day-checklist?state=ga). MCC Solutions provides notaries and witnesses for signings in New Jersey ([estate planning signings](/notary/estate-planning-notary), [the estate planning signing package](/notary/estate-planning-signing-package), [witness services](/notary/witness-services)). Elsewhere, a local notary can help with the self-proving affidavit. ## Sources - [Write a Will (Georgia.gov)](https://georgia.gov/write-will) (checked November 2026) - [Do I Need a Will? (Georgia Division of Aging Services, rev. August 2016)](https://aging.georgia.gov/document/document/do-i-need-will/download) (checked November 2026) - [Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Georgia (Nolo, updated September 2025)](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/georgia-make-will-32191.html) (checked November 2026) Sourced from official pages; a few facts from vetted secondary sources, marked "(secondary source)". General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Have a lawyer prepare or review your will. Checked November 2026 against the official pages listed above. Rules change, and how a rule applies to one will is a question for a lawyer licensed in the state. A notary can't give legal advice or draft a will. ## Common questions **How many witnesses does a will need in Georgia?** 2. Two witnesses, who watch the signing and also sign. The state's page says they shouldn't be beneficiaries. **Does a will need a notary in Georgia?** Not to be valid on the pages we read; the notary is for the self-proving affidavit. Allowed. The state aging division's brochure describes a self-proving affidavit that can remove the need for witness testimony at probate; it doesn't say who takes it. **Can a beneficiary witness a will in Georgia?** A beneficiary who witnesses could lose the gift (Nolo, citing O.C.G.A. 53-4-23). The statute: "Neither witness should be a beneficiary of the will." **Is a handwritten will valid in Georgia?** Not recognized unless witnessed: Georgia.gov (updated June 2026) says a will must be signed in front of two witnesses, who also sign. It doesn't describe any handwritten-will exception. **Are electronic wills allowed in Georgia?** Not authorized, per Nolo's Georgia page (updated September 2025). **How old do you have to be to make a will in Georgia?** 14 or older, per the state aging division's brochure (revised 2016). All states: [will witness requirements by state](/notary/will-witness-requirements-by-state) · [Florida](/notary/will-signing-requirements-florida) · [Hawaii](/notary/will-signing-requirements-hawaii) Do it yourself ### Georgia Will Signing Day Kit Plan your Georgia will signing from the state's own rules. Two witnesses, who watch the signing and also sign. The state's page says they shouldn't be beneficiaries. Self-proving affidavit: Allowed. The state aging division's brochure describes a self-proving affidavit that can remove the need for witness testimony at probate; it doesn't say who takes it. [See what's inside ($19)](/toolkits/georgia-will-signing-day-kit) [Free sample](/toolkits/georgia-will-signing-day-kit#free-starter)14-day full refund ## Need a notary or witnesses in New Jersey? [See witness services](/notary/witness-services)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)