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Pennsylvania has the loosest will-signing rule in the country: a will you sign yourself needs no witnesses at all — just a writing, signed at the end. The catch comes later: at probate, someone still has to prove that signature, which is why every well-prepared Pennsylvania will adds two witnesses and a notarized self-proving affidavit anyway. Online services prepare a Pennsylvania-specific will for $199–$299. Every rule below cites Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
Easy to sign doesn’t mean easy to probate.
Pennsylvania will accept a bare signed will — and then ask your family to prove the signature after you’re gone. An online service like Trust & Will prepares a Pennsylvania-specific will with witness pages and the self-proving affidavit, so the register of wills takes it without a fight.
Disclosure: we earn a commission if you buy through the Trust & Will links here, at no extra cost to you. Complex situations belong with an attorney and we say so below.
Pennsylvania Will Requirements (2026)
20 Pa.C.S. § 2502 sets the execution rules — and they’re shorter than any other state’s:
| Requirement | Pennsylvania rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| In writing | A written document — typed or handwritten; no electronic wills | § 2502 |
| Signed at the end | By you. That’s it — no witnesses are required at signing for a will you sign with your own name | § 2502 |
| Signing by mark | Valid — but then two witnesses must sign in your presence | § 2502(1) |
| Another signs for you | Valid if you declare the instrument your will — again before two witnesses who sign in your presence | § 2502(2) |
| Notarized | Not required for validity — the notary appears in the optional (and strongly recommended) self-proving affidavit | § 3132.1 |
Who can make a will: anyone 18 or older, of sound mind (§ 2501).
Why you should use witnesses anyway
The no-witness rule governs validity, not probate. To admit the will, the register of wills still needs the signature proved — traditionally by the oaths of two people who know your signature. The modern fix is the self-proving affidavit (§ 3132.1): you acknowledge the will and two witnesses swear affidavits before a notary, at signing or any time after, and the register accepts the paperwork without hunting anyone down — unless there’s a contest, or the will was signed by mark or by another’s hand, where live proof is still required. Every properly prepared Pennsylvania will includes it.
Handwritten Wills Are Fully Valid in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania doesn’t need a special “holographic will” doctrine — because any writing signed at the end is a valid will, a handwritten page you sign alone qualifies automatically (§ 2502). No witnesses, no magic words. That is the far end of the range: Delaware, immediately south, refuses handwritten wills entirely and declares any non-complying will void. The usual warnings apply double here: unwitnessed wills invite signature disputes and capacity fights, and the probate proof burden lands on your family. Valid is the floor, not the goal.
Electronic Wills: Not Legal in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has not enacted an electronic-wills law — Title 20 requires a signed writing, and no e-will provisions exist in it. An “online will” is legal in Pennsylvania the ordinary way: the service prepares the document; you print and sign it (ideally with two witnesses and the notarized affidavit, for the probate reasons above).
Dying Without a Will in Pennsylvania: Who Gets What
Pennsylvania’s intestacy statute (§ 2102) holds two surprises — one for young couples, one for blended families:
| Your situation | What happens without a will |
|---|---|
| Married, no children, no surviving parent | Spouse takes everything (§ 2102(1)) |
| Married, no children — but a parent of yours is alive | Spouse takes the first $30,000 plus one-half; your parents take the rest (§ 2102(2)) |
| Married, all children shared with your spouse | Spouse takes the first $30,000 plus one-half; the children take the other half (§ 2102(3)) |
| Married, any child not your spouse’s | Spouse takes one-half only — no $30,000 setaside (§ 2102(4)) |
| Single | Children, then parents, then siblings and beyond (§ 2103) |
Row two is the young-couple trap almost nobody sees coming: a married Pennsylvanian who dies childless — and whose mother is still living — leaves her half the estate over the $30,000 setaside. The surviving spouse co-inherits with the in-laws. And as in most states, the children’s half in rows three and four passes to them outright at 18. Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax makes its own argument for planning: transfers to a spouse are taxed at 0%, but children pay 4.5% and siblings 12% — rates a will can’t change but a plan can prepare for.
What a Will Costs in Pennsylvania
| Route | Typical cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Handwritten, signed, no witnesses | $0 | Valid — and your family inherits the job of proving the signature at probate |
| Online service | $199 individual / $299 couple | Pennsylvania-specific will with witness pages and self-proving affidavit, done in about an hour |
| Pennsylvania attorney | Flat fees vary by region — Philadelphia and its collar counties run highest | Custom drafting and counsel, plus inheritance-tax planning |
Online pricing verified against Trust & Will’s published rates (August 2026). The Pennsylvania Bar publishes no fee survey, so we quote no attorney figures we can’t source — collect two or three flat-fee quotes and compare what’s included. See how Pennsylvania compares with the rest of the country for national cost ranges and a state-by-state table of will requirements.
What a Pennsylvania Will Does Not Do
1. A will does not avoid probate. It’s the instruction sheet the register of wills and orphans’ court follow. Pennsylvania probate is moderate as these things go, but it’s still a public process with filings and inheritance-tax returns. If avoiding it matters, that’s a living trust’s job: see what a living trust costs in Pennsylvania.
2. A will does not reduce Pennsylvania inheritance tax. The 4.5% (children), 12% (siblings), and 15% (others) rates apply to what heirs receive whether there’s a will or not — planning around them is a separate exercise.
3. A will does not cover incapacity, and does not override beneficiary designations. Pair it with a durable power of attorney and healthcare documents — see the five documents every family needs — and keep beneficiary forms current; they beat the will every time.
Will vs. Trust for Pennsylvania Families
Every Pennsylvania adult needs a will — the parents-inherit-with-your-spouse rule alone makes the case for young couples. Whether to add a living trust is a moderate-stakes question here: Pennsylvania probate is not California-expensive, and the inheritance tax applies either way, so the trust case usually rests on privacy, incapacity planning, out-of-state property, or blended families. Start with Trust vs. Will: Which Does Your Family Need? and the numbers in our Pennsylvania living trust cost guide.
If the will is what you need today, Trust & Will’s Pennsylvania package includes the witness pages, self-proving affidavit, guardianship nominations, and healthcare documents — build your Pennsylvania will here.
FAQ
Does a Pennsylvania will need witnesses?
Not at signing, if you sign your own name — a writing signed at the end is valid (§ 2502). Witnesses are required only for signing by mark or by another’s hand. But the signature must still be proved at probate, so adding two witnesses and a self-proving affidavit is standard practice.
Does a will have to be notarized in Pennsylvania?
No. The notary appears only in the optional self-proving affidavit (§ 3132.1), which lets the register of wills accept the will without live witness proof.
Are handwritten wills legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes — automatically. Any writing you sign at the end is a valid will, handwritten included. The probate-proof burden is the reason not to stop there.
Can I make an electronic will in Pennsylvania?
No. Title 20 has no electronic-wills provisions — the will must be a signed physical document. Online services are legal because you print and sign the finished document.
What happens if I die without a will in Pennsylvania?
With shared children, your spouse takes $30,000 plus half, and the children take the rest. With a child from outside the marriage, your spouse takes just half. And if you die childless while a parent survives, your spouse shares the estate with your parents (§ 2102).
Does a will avoid probate or inheritance tax in Pennsylvania?
Neither. The will is carried out through probate, and Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax (0% spouse, 4.5% children, 12% siblings, 15% others) applies with or without one. Trusts, beneficiary designations, and joint titling move property outside probate; the tax follows its own rules.
Pennsylvania Law Cited on This Page
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 2501 — who may make a will
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502 — form and execution
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 3132.1 — self-proved wills
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 2102 — share of surviving spouse
Update log — August 2026: page created; all statutory requirements verified against the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes at the General Assembly’s official site. Reviewed when Pennsylvania law changes.