A last will and testament is a legal document that contains the details of a person (testator) relating to their estate in the event of death, created in the form prescribed by law.
It is ordinarily a good idea to make a last will and testament. Even if you don’t have a lot of assets, a will can certainly help your family situation and end up being vital to your close relatives after your passing.
Here, you’ll find a Pennsylvania last will and testament template for download and the tips that will eliminate your slightest uncertainties concerning estate planning, varieties of last will, and the ways to write a sound document.
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Pennsylvania law sets out specific rules for a valid last will, covering how it must be written, where the testator signs, and when witnesses are required. Under Section 2502 of the 20 Pa.C.S., a will must be in writing and signed by the testator at the end of the document.[1.1] The table below summarizes the core requirements and their statute references.
"Every will shall be in writing and shall be signed by the testator at the end thereof, subject to the following rules and exceptions."
| Requirements | State laws | |
| Statutes | Title 20 – Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries; Chapter 25 – Wills | |
| Signing requirement | Witnesses are needed only in specific cases[1.2] | § 2502(2)-(3) Form and execution of a will |
| Self-proving wills | Allowed[2] | § 3132.1. Self-proved wills |
Follow these steps to complete your Pennsylvania last will and testament using the document builder below. Each step corresponds to a section of the form, from naming the testator to signing in front of witnesses where they are required.
A Pennsylvania last will is valid when it is in writing and signed by the testator at the end of the document.[1.1] If the testator cannot sign, someone else may sign for them, at their direction and in their presence. Or the testator may sign with a mark, witnessed by two people who sign in the testator's presence.[1.2][1.3] These are the formalities the table above summarizes in full.
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Pennsylvania law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
The primary distinction between the two documents is that once you are gone, the agent you assign through power of attorney loses their official authority to take care of any matters on your behalf. Among various power of attorney types, the two following ones are believed to be fundamental:
An executor is someone you have confidence in and assign to make sure the will’s directions are performed. You can name one person to act as an attorney-in-fact and a will executor.
Pennsylvania law affirms that a last will can be valid without having a notary public certify it, since the state's requirements are limited to a written document signed by the testator.[1.1] But, you could make your last will self-proving by adding an affidavit to the document, and you’ll need to hire a notary if you want to do that.[2]
An attested will is a typewritten document, usually built from a fillable template or drafted with an attorney's help. Pennsylvania requires two witnesses only when you sign by mark or have someone sign for you, so a standard attested will you sign yourself does not need witnesses in this state.[1.2]
This page does not cover the separate rules for handwritten wills, since that depends on details this guide does not verify. For a document you plan to rely on, a typewritten will built from a reliable template is the more dependable choice.
According to Pennsylvania law, you do not need to add a self-proving affidavit to your last will.[2] But, it isn’t a bad choice to include this document. At the time of probate, it would function as an alternative for the witness testimony in court and speed up the procedure.
Pennsylvania is not a community property state, and its rules on what a surviving spouse is entitled to are not covered by this guide. Talk to a probate attorney about your specific situation before writing a spouse out of your will.
Other than a spouse, Pennsylvania generally lets you leave any family member out of your will if you say so clearly in the document. Many people add a short disinheritance clause naming the person and stating that they are intentionally left out, which helps prevent confusion later.
No, only you can change your last will. There’s just one situation when a third party is permitted to get involved. If you are physically incapable of signing your last will and testament, a third party is allowed to do it in your stead yet only in your presence.[1.3]
Yes, it’s possible.
In practice, you can generally update or revoke your last will as your circumstances change, unless you have signed a separate contract that says otherwise.
It would also be good to amend your last will and testament in such cases:
Keep your original will somewhere safe that your executor can access, and let your executor or a trusted family member know where it is. Courts generally want to see the original document, not a copy, so a lost original can complicate probate.
If a will cannot be found after someone dies, talk to a probate attorney promptly. This page does not cover Pennsylvania's specific rules for a lost or destroyed will, since that depends on details this guide does not verify.
Pennsylvania law allows someone else to sign your last will for you, at your direction and in your presence.[1.3] You can typically give that direction by speaking, or with a clear physical signal such as a nod.
If you are unable to sign your name at all, someone can also sign your mark for you as long as two witnesses see it happen in your presence.[1.2]
| Related documents | When to make it |
| Codicil | Your last will requires one or several minor modifications. |
| Self-proving affidavit | You want to keep from potential difficulties during the probate. |
| Living will | You want to make sure that, if you are incapacitated, you are treated the way you would wish to. |
| Living trust | You want to avoid probate by putting your assets in the possession of a trust. |
General information, not legal or tax advice.
