Your will is arguably the most important legal document you'll ever create. But for many people, the logistical hurdle of getting it properly signed, witnessed, and notarized causes months or years of procrastination. According to a 2025 Gallup survey, 67% of Americans don't have a will — and "it's too complicated" is the number one reason cited.
Online notarization changes this. In states that allow remote will execution, you can create, sign, witness, and notarize a will entirely from your computer — no appointment, no travel, no scheduling hassle.
This guide walks you through exactly how it works, what your state requires, and the step-by-step process using Proof.com.
This is the most common misconception about wills: in most states, a will does NOT need to be notarized to be legally valid. What it needs is:
That's it. A will that meets these basic requirements is legally binding in 47 of 50 states (Louisiana has unique requirements; Vermont requires 3 witnesses; various states have minor variations).
Notarizing your will — specifically, attaching a self-proving affidavit — doesn't make the will more valid, but it makes probate significantly easier. Here's why it matters:
When your estate goes through probate (even with a will, most estates go through some probate process), the court must verify the will was properly executed. The standard way to do this: contact your witnesses and have them testify. But your will might not be probated for 30 or 40 years. Your witnesses might be dead, moved away, or have no memory of signing.
A self-proving affidavit is a notarized statement where you and your witnesses swear — before a notary — that the will was properly executed. Courts in all 50 states (that recognize self-proving affidavits) will accept this without needing to contact witnesses. It saves your heirs time, money, and headaches during an already difficult time.
Will execution requirements vary by state. Here's what you need to know about the three key variables:
States that explicitly permit remote witnesses as of 2026 include: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. This list continues to grow — check your state's current law before proceeding.
Before notarization, you need the will itself. Options:
Important: Have your will in final, complete PDF form before scheduling notarization. Any changes after notarization are legally problematic and require the entire process to be repeated.
Before proceeding, verify two things:
Proof.com maintains an up-to-date state map. You can also call your county probate court clerk — they're generally helpful and can tell you exactly what's required.
Go to Proof.com and create an account. You'll need:
Upload your will as a PDF. Proof.com will convert it to a signing-ready format with designated fields for your signature, witness signatures, and the notary seal.
Critical: Do NOT sign the will before the notarization session. The notary must witness the actual signing.
You'll need to designate two witnesses. Proof.com allows you to:
Your witnesses should be adults who are NOT beneficiaries in your will. Good options: neighbors, coworkers, friends, or family members who aren't inheriting anything.
When all parties are ready, you join a video call with the notary, your witnesses present (also via video). The process:
Total time: 20–45 minutes depending on document length and number of witnesses.
You receive the completed, notarized will as a tamper-evident PDF. Critical storage steps:
Robert Nguyen, 52, had put off making a will for years. When his company announced layoffs, he suddenly felt the urgency. Problem: he was traveling for work and wouldn't be home for three weeks.
He used Trust & Will to draft his will online during a flight layover ($199 for the complete will package). The next day, he used Proof.com from his hotel room. His two witnesses — his brother and a college friend — joined via video from their homes in different states. The entire session took 34 minutes. He had a legally executed, notarized will before landing in Phoenix.
Total cost: $224. Total time away from work: under an hour. Compare to the "I'll get to it eventually" approach that kept him unprotected for a decade.
| Approach | Will Creation | Notarization | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online (Trust & Will + Proof.com) | $199 | $25 | ~$225 |
| Attorney-drafted + bank notary | $300–$1,500 | Free–$20 | $320–$1,520 |
| DIY forms + mobile notary | Free–$50 | $75–$200 | $75–$250 |
| Attorney-drafted + attorney notary | $300–$1,500 | Included | $300–$1,500 |
A notarized will is the starting point, not the finish line. After execution:
Don't let logistics keep you from protecting your family. Proof.com makes online will notarization fast, legal, and affordable.
Start with Proof.com — $25 →Need to create a will first? Try Trust & Will — then return here to notarize.