Practical examples of self-proving will examples in different states

Real-world examples of self-proving will clauses by state

Most people hear “self-proving will” and assume there’s one standard form used everywhere. Not even close. The best examples of self-proving will language show how state law quietly changes the wording, the number of witnesses, and how the notary signs off.

Below are practical, plain-English examples of self-proving will examples in different states. These are illustrative samples, adapted from state statutes and common forms. Do not copy-paste them into your own will without talking to a licensed attorney in your state.

Texas example of a self-proving will (with combined clause)

Texas is famous among estate lawyers for its very specific self-proving language in the Estates Code. A typical Texas self-proving will doesn’t use a separate affidavit page. Instead, the self-proving language is built right into the will and signed once.

Here’s a simplified example of how the self-proving section might read in a Texas will:

Self-Proving Certificate (Texas-Style Example)
“Before me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared JOHN DOE, and the witnesses JANE SMITH and ROBERT BROWN, known to me to be the Testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are subscribed to the annexed or foregoing instrument in their respective capacities, and, all of said persons being by me duly sworn, the Testator declared to me and to the witnesses in my presence that the instrument is his Last Will and Testament, and that he had willingly made and executed it as his free act and deed, and that the witnesses stated before me that they had each signed the Will as witness in the presence of the Testator and at his request.”

Testator: ______________________
**Witness:** _______________________
**Witness:** _______________________
**Notary Public:** __________________
“Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___ day of __________, 20___.”

Real examples of Texas wills follow the statutory language very closely because judges are picky: if you improvise too much, the will might not be treated as self-proving. The official form appears in the Texas Estates Code §251.1045.

California example of a self-proving will (separate affidavit)

California lets a will be made self-proving through a separate affidavit that’s signed and notarized. Many California attorneys attach a short self-proving affidavit after the signature page.

Here is an example of how a California-style self-proving affidavit might look:

Self-Proving Affidavit (California-Style Example)
“STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES”

“We, JOHN DOE, the Testator, and JANE SMITH and ROBERT BROWN, the witnesses, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument, being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the Testator signed and executed the instrument as his Last Will and Testament and that he signed willingly, and that each of us, in the presence and hearing of the Testator, signed the Will as witness, and that to the best of our knowledge the Testator was at that time 18 years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.”

Testator: ______________________
**Witness:** _______________________
**Witness:** _______________________
**Notary Public:** __________________
“Subscribed and sworn to before me on this ___ day of __________, 20___.”

In practice, California probate courts are used to seeing this separate page. It’s one of the cleaner examples of self-proving will examples in different states, because the affidavit is detachable and easy for the court clerk to scan and file.

Florida example of a self-proving will (statutory wording)

Florida is another state with very specific statutory language. Florida Statutes §732.503 actually prints the model self-proving affidavit for lawyers to copy.

Here is a shortened example of the Florida-style wording:

Self-Proving Affidavit (Florida-Style Example)
“STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF MIAMI-DADE”

“We, JOHN DOE, JANE SMITH, and ROBERT BROWN, the Testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument, being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the Testator signed and executed the instrument as the Testator’s Last Will and Testament and that the Testator signed willingly, and that each of us, in the presence and hearing of the Testator, signed the Will as witness, and that to the best of our knowledge the Testator was at that time 18 years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.”

Testator: ______________________
**Witness:** _______________________
**Witness:** _______________________
**Notary Public:** __________________
“Sworn to and subscribed before me by JOHN DOE, the Testator, and by JANE SMITH and ROBERT BROWN, the witnesses, this ___ day of __________, 20___.”

Florida courts strongly prefer that you track the statute word-for-word. Among the best examples of self-proving will forms, Florida’s is one of the most detailed about capacity and lack of undue influence, reflecting the state’s high volume of elder estate disputes.

New York example of a self-proving will (attestation clause + affidavit)

New York’s Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) uses a two-step approach: an attestation clause in the will itself plus an affidavit that can be signed at the same time or later.

A typical New York attestation clause might look like this:

Attestation Clause (New York-Style Example)
“On the ___ day of __________, 20___, JOHN DOE, the Testator, signed the foregoing instrument in our presence and declared it to be his Last Will and Testament. We, at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.”

Witness: _______________________
Witness: _______________________

To make the will self-proving, many New York attorneys add a separate affidavit:

Witness Affidavit (Self-Proving Example)
“STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK”

“We, JANE SMITH and ROBERT BROWN, being duly sworn, say: That we were present and saw JOHN DOE subscribe his name at the end of the instrument in writing, dated __________, 20___, described as his Last Will and Testament; that he declared the instrument to be his Last Will and Testament; that each of us signed our names as witnesses at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other; that at the time of execution the Testator appeared to us to be over 18 years of age, of sound mind and memory, and not under any restraint.”

Witness: _______________________
Witness: _______________________
Notary Public: __________________

New York’s approach is a good example of self-proving will examples in different states where the focus is heavily on witness testimony. The affidavit essentially pre-records what the witnesses would say later in court.

Arizona example of a self-proving will (Uniform Probate Code style)

Arizona follows the Uniform Probate Code, which many Western and Midwestern states have adopted in some form. That means the examples of self-proving will clauses here will look very familiar if you practice in places like Montana, New Mexico, or North Dakota.

Here is a typical Arizona-style self-proving affidavit, based on A.R.S. §14‑2504:

Self-Proving Affidavit (Arizona-Style Example)
“We, JOHN DOE, the Testator, and JANE SMITH and ROBERT BROWN, the witnesses, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument, being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the Testator signed and executed the instrument as the Testator’s Last Will and that he signed willingly, and that each of us, in the presence and hearing of the Testator, signed the Will as witness, and that to the best of our knowledge the Testator was at that time 18 years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.”

Signatures and notary block follow.

This is one of the cleanest examples of self-proving will examples in different states because the Uniform Probate Code language is widely copied. If you’re comparing forms across states, this one is your baseline.

North Carolina example of a self-proving will (statutory form with notary)

North Carolina General Statutes §31‑11.6 provide a model self-proving form. It’s a good illustration of how some states bake the self-proving language into the witness section itself.

Here is a simplified North Carolina example:

Self-Proving Clause (North Carolina-Style Example)
“We, JANE SMITH and ROBERT BROWN, being duly sworn, say that JOHN DOE, the Testator, signed the foregoing instrument in our presence and declared it to be his Last Will and Testament, and we, at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, have signed our names as witnesses. The Testator appeared to us to be of sound mind and over 18 years of age.”

Witness: _______________________
Witness: _______________________
Notary Public: __________________
“Subscribed and sworn to before me, this ___ day of __________, 20___.”

This is one of the best examples of how a state can convert a simple witness clause into a self-proving affidavit just by adding the notary oath and signature.

How these examples differ across states (and why it matters)

When you line up these examples of self-proving will examples in different states, some patterns jump out:

• Number of witnesses: Most states require two witnesses, but how they sign and what they swear to can vary.
• Combined vs. separate affidavit: Texas often combines the will and self-proving language into one signing ceremony. California and Florida commonly use a separate self-proving affidavit page.
• Capacity and undue influence language: Florida, Arizona, and other Uniform Probate Code states explicitly mention that the testator is of sound mind and not under undue influence. That language is less emphasized in some older East Coast forms.
• Timing: In many states, the self-proving affidavit can be signed later, even after the original will signing, as long as the witnesses can still swear to the same facts.

From a practical standpoint, the best examples are the ones that track the exact statutory language in your state. Judges and probate clerks see those phrases every day; anything too creative raises eyebrows.

For 2024–2025, a clear trend is that more people are using online will platforms, but those platforms often ship a “one-size-fits-all” self-proving clause. That’s risky. A clause that works beautifully in Arizona might not satisfy the formalities in New York or Texas.

Cross-state issues: why copying another state’s example can backfire

People love to borrow forms. A Florida resident moves to North Carolina and keeps using a Florida-style will. A California couple retires to Arizona with a California form. Those real examples show why you need to treat examples of self-proving will examples in different states as reference material, not plug-and-play templates.

Common problems when you copy the wrong example of a self-proving will:

• The notary wording doesn’t match your state’s required form.
• The witnesses don’t sign in the right place or under oath.
• The clause doesn’t mention the facts your state cares about (age, sound mind, no undue influence, etc.).
• The will is valid, but not self-proving, which means your family has to track down witnesses years later.

The result: your heirs spend time and money fixing a problem that could have been avoided by using an in-state form.

If you want to see your own state’s preferred language, the best starting point is usually your state’s probate or court website. Many state courts publish sample forms online. For example:

• The U.S. Courts site has general information on probate and federal court basics: https://www.uscourts.gov/
• The University of Minnesota provides a public overview of the Uniform Probate Code many states follow: https://www.law.umn.edu/
• The Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School offers free access to many state probate statutes: https://www.law.cornell.edu/

These are not fill-in-the-blank forms, but they’re reliable for checking whether your language lines up with the law.

Practical tips for using these examples in your own planning

If you’re comparing examples of self-proving will examples in different states to update or create your own documents, keep a few practical points in mind:

• Start with your state statute, not a random template. Many states literally print a model self-proving clause in their probate code. That’s your gold standard.
• Treat witness and notary rules as non-negotiable. If your state says two witnesses must sign in the testator’s presence, you do exactly that. No shortcuts.
• Don’t assume a notarized will is automatically self-proving. A notary stamp alone is not enough. The language must show that the testator and witnesses swore to specific facts.
• Update when you move. If you change states, have a local attorney review your will. The will may still be valid, but the self-proving section might not meet your new state’s requirements.
• Watch for electronic will developments. A handful of states now allow electronic wills with remote online notarization. The self-proving concept still exists, but the execution rules are different and highly technical.

Used correctly, the best examples of self-proving will language can save your family from a lot of procedural headaches. Used carelessly, they can give you false confidence that your will is “all set” when it’s not.

FAQ: common questions about self-proving will examples

Q1: Can I use a Texas example of a self-proving will if I live in another state?
You can study it, but you shouldn’t copy it. Texas has very specific statutory language and a combined will/affidavit structure. Other states might treat that form as a regular witnessed will, not self-proving, which means your witnesses could still be called into court.

Q2: Are there any simple examples of self-proving will forms that work in every state?
No. Some Uniform Probate Code states share similar language, but there is no truly universal example of a self-proving will that satisfies every state’s technical rules. At best, you can find model language that a local attorney can adapt.

Q3: What’s the best example of a self-proving clause to show my lawyer?
The best example is the one printed in your state’s probate statute or official court forms. If your state’s law includes a model self-proving affidavit, bring that to your attorney and ask them to track it closely.

Q4: Do holographic (handwritten) wills ever have self-proving examples?
In some states that recognize holographic wills, you can attach a typed self-proving affidavit signed by witnesses and a notary. The will itself is handwritten, but the self-proving section is not. Whether that works depends entirely on state law, so this is an area where you need local advice.

Q5: Where can I find more examples of self-proving will examples in different states?
State legislative websites and court self-help centers are your best bet. Many states post sample wills or self-proving affidavits online, often in PDF form. You can cross-check those with resources from law schools and legal aid organizations to make sure you’re looking at current, 2024–2025 language.

Bottom line: Examples of self-proving will examples in different states are great learning tools, but they are not plug-and-play forms. Use them to understand the structure, the witness statements, and the notary language—then let a lawyer in your state translate that knowledge into a valid, self-proving will that actually holds up in probate.