An Ohio last will and testament is a legal instrument that contains the instructions of a person creating the will (known as the testator) regarding their last wishes in case of their death, created in the format prescribed by law.
A last will allows you to name an executor, the person who oversees your estate. It also lets you choose where your money goes, state who should care for any minor children, and give input on your funeral arrangements. This Ohio last will and testament template lets you fill in your details and print a document that follows state law.
Other than that, down below, you will find information pertaining to the will creation process, state requirements, and answers to commonly asked questions.
Build Your Document
Answer a few simple questions to make your document in minutes
Save and Print
Save progress and finish on any device, download and print anytime
Sign and Use
Your valid, lawyer-approved document is ready
Ohio's will laws set specific rules for a valid last will and testament, covering who can make one, how it must be signed, and how many witnesses are required. The table below summarizes the core requirements under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2107, including signing, age, and witness rules for standard, handwritten, and oral wills.
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Ohio law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
| Requirements | State laws | |
| Statutes | Chapter 2107 – Wills | |
| Will Definition | 2107.01 Will construed | |
| Signing requirement | Two witnesses | 2107.03 Method of making will |
| Age of testator | 18 or older | 2107.02 Who may make will |
| Age of witnesses | 18 or older | 2107.06 Age requirement for witnessing will |
| Self-proving wills | Not allowed | |
| Handwritten wills | Recognized if witnessed according to the state law | 2107.03 Method of making will |
| Oral wills | Recognized if meets certain conditions | 2107.60 Oral will |
| Holographic wills | Not recognized | |
| Depositing a will | Possible with the office of the judge of the probate court in an Ohio county | 2107.07 Deposit of will |
A will is legally binding in Ohio when it is in writing and signed following the state's witness rules. The document must be in writing, either handwritten or typewritten, and signed by the testator or by someone else acting at the testator's direction and in their presence. Two competent witnesses must then watch the signing, or have the testator acknowledge the signature to them, and attest the will themselves. Skipping either requirement can make a will invalid in an Ohio probate court.[1]
Confirm whether any witness you plan to use is also named as a beneficiary in your will. An interested witness can create problems if the will is ever challenged in probate court.
Follow these steps to fill out your Ohio last will and testament template correctly.
1. Specify your details (if you are the testator). Indicate your full legal name and street address (the city, county, and state of residence) to establish the testator of the will. Check the details you wrote and the rest of the passage for any mistakes.
3. Appoint the executor of your will. In this part, you should determine who will execute your last will and testament by entering their full legal name, along with their city, county, and state of residence. Most states have specific restrictions regarding out-of-state representatives and executors. In Ohio, a nonresident may serve as executor only if they are related to the testator by blood or marriage, or if their home state's law lets a nonresident who is unrelated to the testator serve as executor or trustee.[2]
As an assurance, you may appoint an alternative executor of the last will and testament. This way, you will be able to ensure that, even when the initially appointed executor is unable to carry out their duties, there is another trustworthy person you can count on.
4. Establish the guardian (optional). It is possible to appoint a trusted person, and an additional backup guardian, in case you have underage or dependent children who need care. You may name a trusted person as a guardian. If there are no directions pertaining to who should take care of your kids, the guardian will be appointed by the court.
5. Establish your beneficiaries. Now establish individuals to whom you leave your property, that is, your beneficiaries. For each inheritor, fill out the following details: full name, address, and how they are related to you.
6. Allocate assets. Write down your property and possessions and describe exactly how you wish to distribute this property amongst your inheritors if you’ve got something on your mind other than splitting the property evenly. Assets could include money for unpaid debts, realty, shares, company ownership, cash, as well as any physical things of monetary worth you own. Please notice that there are things that can’t be distributed in your last will and testament, for example, joint and living trust property and life insurance.
7. Have two witnesses sign after you do. Ohio Rev. Code 2107.03 requires at least two competent witnesses. They must watch you sign the will, or you must acknowledge to them that the signature is yours, and then they attest and sign it themselves.[1] They should be at least 18 years old and have no interest in your estate, so they cannot also be beneficiaries.
Note: Think about selecting witnesses younger than you to ensure they will be present in case the will is contested in the court or if any other problem takes place. This is especially important in Ohio because you cannot make your will self-proving here.
At this point, you (as well as your two witnesses) must sign the paper after writing your full legal addresses and names. Don’t forget to look over each sentence of your will carefully before concluding the matter.
No. Ohio law does not specifically require wills to be notarized. State law requires two competent witnesses who watch you sign, or hear you acknowledge your signature, and then sign the will themselves.[1]
You must meet testamentary capacity requirements to be able to make a will. There are generally two requirements: soundness of mind and being an adult. In the majority of states (which includes Ohio), you have to be over 18 years old in order to create a valid last will. Soundness of mind means that you are aware of your property and the beneficiaries of your possessions and fully understand the consequences of your doings.
No, you cannot. In Ohio, self-proving wills are not allowed.
No, you are not legally possible to disinherit your spouse through a will in Ohio. A surviving spouse has legal rights to claim some or all of the deceased’s estate, depending on the circumstances. It is possible for a spouse to waive this right in a legal contract, such as a prenuptial agreement.
No, it is solely you who can amend your will. A third party is only able to sign the last will and testament in case you’re physically incapable of doing so.
Yes, this can be easily done. A person who wrote a will is permitted to adjust or revoke it anytime.
Additionally, it can be a wise decision to revise your last will and testament as you experience an important life event such as:
Ohio law allows another person to sign the will for you. They must sign at the end of the document, in your conscious presence, and at your express direction.[1] The rest of the signing and witness rules still apply.
FormsPal offers free last will and testament templates for other states as well. Each state sets its own signing and witness rules, so use the state-specific version if you or your property are located outside Ohio.
This page is general information about Ohio last wills, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a Ohio attorney.
