[WSBAPT] Notarized Will required to admit to probate vs valid Will

[steve at aitalaw.com]

My first boss told me that when he first starting practicing law back in the
late '50s, before self-proving Wills, you would have to bring the witnesses
in to the courthouse and have them sworn in to provide live testimony that
they did in fact witness the signing of the Will. Of course, he might've
been telling some tall tales of the "back in my day" nature.

 

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P. Stephen Aita

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steve at aitalaw.com

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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
On Behalf Of Timothy Lehr
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 10:38 AM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBAPT] Notarized Will required to admit to probate vs valid Will

 

All,

 

I have what is likely a dumb question, but have not came across this before.
PC filed a Petition to admit decedent's Will and open probate, pro se. The
Will was signed by two witnesses but not notarized. The court denied the
petition and stated that the Will needs to be notarized and cannot be
admitted. 

 

My office always notarizes our Wills but I did not think that was required
to admit a Will to probate. My research found that a Will does not need to
be notarized to be a valid Will under RCW 11.12.020, but a notarized Will
creates a self-proving Will. Does a Will need to be notarized to admit to
probate or if not notarized, are there additional requirements to admit the
un-notarized Will to probate? 

 

Timothy C. Lehr

Attorney & Partner

 



 

p: 360.855.0131

e: timothy at stileslaw.com <mailto:timothy at stileslaw.com> 

w: www.stileslaw.com <http://www.stileslaw.com/> 

 

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