Writing Your Will in Pennsylvania

To create a will in Pennsylvania, the person creating the will (known as the testator) must be able to:put their will in writingunderstand the meaning of the document, andbe free of undue influence or duressUnlike most states, Pennsylvania law does not require that the will be signed in front of two witnesses.A will remains in full effect until a new will replaces it or it is revoked. Written amendments to the will in the form of codicils require the same signing and witness formalities as a will. The state of Pennsylvania recognizes holographic wills in certain circumstances. A holographic will is one written in the testator's handwriting but not signed by any witness. See our interactive map on holographic wills for more information. Oral wills are not recognized in Pennsylvania.Limitations on Wills in PennsylvaniaIn Pennsylvania, a surviving spouse has a right to either accept the gift under a will or choose to take his percentage…