Free Washington Last Will and Testament
Build a complete Washington will in minutes — free, no account. Fill in your details and download a ready-to-sign PDF with the protective clauses built in and Washington's correct signing requirements.
A free, ready-to-sign will — but not legal advice.
This builds a complete Washington will with the protective clauses most templates skip (survivorship period, residuary, minor's trust, executor powers). It becomes legally valid only when you sign it correctly (see the signing steps below). For a large or blended estate, have an attorney review it. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
About you
Children
Name all your children, even any you are not leaving anything to — naming them prevents an 'omitted child' claim.
Who inherits everything else (your residuary estate)
The catch-all gift of everything not specifically given. Shares should total 100%.
Specific gifts (optional)
Particular items or sums to particular people.
Executor (the person who carries out your will)
Options
Naming them states the omission is intentional. Note: you generally cannot fully disinherit a spouse (see the warnings).
Before you sign — Washington notes
Choose 2 witnesses who are adults and who do NOT inherit under this Will. A beneficiary (or a beneficiary's spouse) should never witness your Will.
Add at least one residuary beneficiary with a share above 0%. Without a residuary gift, everything not specifically given would pass by intestacy (state default rules), defeating the point of the Will.
To make this Will valid in Washington: A valid Washington will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another at the testator's direction in the testator's presence or electronic presence), and attested by two or more competent witnesses who either subscribe the will or sign an RCW 11.20.020(2) affidavit, while in the presence or electronic presence of the testator and at the testator's request (RCW 11.12.020). Notarization is not required for validity. To make the will self-proving, the attesting witnesses sign an affidavit before a notary stating the facts they would testify to in court; under RCW 11.20.020(2) the court accepts that sworn statement as if taken before the court. Note: the DC/Ohio no-affidavit exception does NOT apply to Washington State — Washington DOES allow a self-proving witness affidavit. Washington does not recognize in-state unwitnessed holographic wills.
This is a do-it-yourself Will for a straightforward estate. If you have a large or blended estate, business interests, tax concerns, a special-needs beneficiary, or want to disinherit close family, have an attorney review it. This is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
Or email yourself a copy (PDF)
Last Will and Testament of [YOUR FULL NAME]
ARTICLE I — DECLARATION
I, [YOUR FULL NAME], a resident of [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Washington, being of full legal age to make a will and of sound mind and memory, declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, and I revoke all wills and codicils I have previously made.
ARTICLE II — FAMILY
I am not married.
If I have not named or provided for a child or other descendant in this Will, that omission is intentional and not the result of accident or mistake.
ARTICLE III — PAYMENT OF DEBTS, EXPENSES, AND TAXES
I direct my Executor to pay my legally enforceable debts, the expenses of my last illness and funeral, the costs of administering my estate, and any estate or inheritance taxes payable by reason of my death, out of the residue of my estate, without apportionment.
ARTICLE IV — TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY
I give my tangible personal property (household goods, furniture, vehicles, jewelry, collections, and personal effects not otherwise specifically given) to my residuary beneficiaries as they agree, or as my Executor determines if they cannot agree.
I may leave a separate written memorandum, signed and dated by me, disposing of items of tangible personal property. Washington law allows such a memorandum to be given effect, and I direct my Executor to honor the most recent such memorandum I leave.
ARTICLE V — RESIDUARY ESTATE
I give all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to [RESIDUARY BENEFICIARY].
If no beneficiary named in this article survives me, my residuary estate shall pass to my heirs at law under the intestacy laws of my state.
ARTICLE VI — SURVIVORSHIP
Except as otherwise provided, a beneficiary must survive me by 30 days to receive any gift under this Will. A beneficiary who does not survive me by 30 days shall be treated as having predeceased me. This protects my estate from passing through the estate of a beneficiary who dies shortly after me.
ARTICLE VII — APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR
I nominate [EXECUTOR NAME] as Executor of this Will.
I direct that my Executor serve without bond and, to the fullest extent allowed by law, without court supervision (independent administration). My Executor shall have all powers granted to executors and personal representatives under the law of my state, including the power to sell, lease, invest, and distribute estate property, to pay debts and taxes, and to settle claims, all without prior court approval, as my Executor deems to be in the best interest of my estate.
ARTICLE VIII — DIGITAL ASSETS
I authorize my Executor to access, manage, distribute, and dispose of my digital assets and electronic communications, and to act as my fiduciary under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (or its equivalent in my state), with full authority to consent to a custodian's disclosure of the content and records of my electronic communications and accounts.
ARTICLE IX — SIMULTANEOUS DEATH
If any beneficiary and I die under circumstances in which the order of our deaths cannot be established, that beneficiary shall be deemed to have predeceased me. If my spouse and I die under such circumstances, my spouse shall be deemed to have predeceased me.
ARTICLE X — GENERAL PROVISIONS
This Will shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington.
If any provision of this Will is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full effect. Words of one gender include the other, and the singular includes the plural, as the context requires. The headings are for convenience only and do not affect the meaning of this Will.
EXECUTION
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I sign this Will, consisting of the foregoing pages, on this _____ day of ____________, 20____, at [CITY], Washington.
____________________________________
[YOUR FULL NAME], Testator
ATTESTATION — The foregoing instrument was signed by the Testator and declared to be the Testator's Will in our presence, and we, at the Testator's request and in the Testator's presence and in the presence of each other, sign below as witnesses, believing the Testator to be of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.
Witness 1: ____________________________ Address: ____________________________
Witness 2: ____________________________ Address: ____________________________
SELF-PROVING AFFIDAVIT (RCW 11.20.020(2)) — sign this part before a notary to make probate easier:
Washington does NOT prescribe a single rigid verbatim affidavit form. Under RCW 11.20.020(2), any or all attesting witnesses may, at the request of the testator (or after death at the request of the executor or an interested person), make an affidavit before any person authorized to administer oaths, stating such facts as they would be required to testify to in court to prove the will; the affidavit may be written on the will or affixed or logically associated with the will (or a photographic copy or an electronic will). The sworn statement is then accepted by the court as if taken before the court. Faithful practice template:
"STATE OF WASHINGTON, COUNTY OF _______. We, [WITNESS 1] and [WITNESS 2], being first duly sworn, state that: the attached instrument was signed by [TESTATOR], the testator, as the testator's last will (or signed for the testator at the testator's direction in the testator's presence); the testator declared it to be the testator's will and signed it willingly as a free and voluntary act; each of us signed as a witness in the presence or electronic presence of the testator and at the testator's request; and at the time of signing the testator was, to the best of our knowledge, at least eighteen years of age, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.
_________ Witness _________ Witness
Subscribed and sworn before me this ___ day of ____, 20__.
_________ Notary Public (SEAL) My commission expires: ____"
How to Sign Your Will in Washington
A valid Washington will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another at the testator's direction in the testator's presence or electronic presence), and attested by two or more competent witnesses who either subscribe the will or sign an RCW 11.20.020(2) affidavit, while in the presence or electronic presence of the testator and at the testator's request (RCW 11.12.020). Notarization is not required for validity. To make the will self-proving, the attesting witnesses sign an affidavit before a notary stating the facts they would testify to in court; under RCW 11.20.020(2) the court accepts that sworn statement as if taken before the court. Note: the DC/Ohio no-affidavit exception does NOT apply to Washington State — Washington DOES allow a self-proving witness affidavit. Washington does not recognize in-state unwitnessed holographic wills.
Washington requires 2 witnesses: The will must be signed by the testator (or by another at the testator's direction in the testator's presence or electronic presence) and attested by two or more competent witnesses who either subscribe their names to the will OR sign an affidavit complying with RCW 11.20.020(2), while in the presence or electronic presence of the testator and at the testator's direction or request (RCW 11.12.020).. Your will does not need to be notarized to be valid. Sign the self-proving affidavit (RCW 11.20.020(2)) before a notary so your witnesses won't have to testify in probate.
Can You Disinherit a Spouse in Washington?
Washington is a COMMUNITY-PROPERTY state and has NO elective/forced-share statute. The surviving spouse (or registered domestic partner) ALREADY owns one-half of all community property outright; the deceased spouse can only dispose by will of his/her own one-half of the community property plus all separate property. So a spouse CAN be 'disinherited' from the decedent's half of community property and from separate property, but the survivor keeps their own 50% of community property regardless of the will. There is no statutory right to elect against the will. (A homestead award and family/basic award under ch. 11.54 may also be available.)
No-contest clauses: No-contest clauses are generally enforceable in Washington (In re Estate of Mumby), BUT a contestant who had probable cause and acted in good faith is not penalized — the court will not enforce forfeiture (and will not assess costs/fees) where the contest was brought with probable cause and in good faith. Reliance on advice of counsel after full disclosure can establish probable cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a will made online valid in Washington?
Yes, if you sign it correctly. Washington requires 2 witnesses. The document this tool creates is a standard typed will; it becomes legally valid when you sign it following the steps above.
Does my Washington will need to be notarized?
No. Washington does not require your will to be notarized. Notarizing the separate self-proving affidavit is optional but makes probate easier.
How many witnesses does a Washington will need?
2 witnesses. The will must be signed by the testator (or by another at the testator's direction in the testator's presence or electronic presence) and attested by two or more competent witnesses who either subscribe their names to the will OR sign an affidavit complying with RCW 11.20.020(2), while in the presence or electronic presence of the testator and at the testator's direction or request (RCW 11.12.020). They should be adults who do not inherit under the will.
Can I leave my spouse out of my Washington will?
Washington is a COMMUNITY-PROPERTY state and has NO elective/forced-share statute. The surviving spouse (or registered domestic partner) ALREADY owns one-half of all community property outright; the deceased spouse can only dispose by will of his/her own one-half of the community property plus all separate property. So a spouse CAN be 'disinherited' from the decedent's half of community property and from separate property, but the survivor keeps their own 50% of community property regardless of the will. There is no statutory right to elect against the will. (A homestead award and family/basic award under ch. 11.54 may also be available.)
Is this really free?
Yes. The generator is free, requires no account, and runs in your browser — your answers are not sent to a server. It is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
Disclaimer
This generator produces a general-purpose will for a straightforward estate and is not legal advice or a substitute for an attorney. Will and probate law changes; the Washington requirements here are current as of 2026-06-03. A will is only valid if signed and witnessed correctly. For a large, blended, or complex estate, tax planning, a special-needs beneficiary, or to disinherit close family, consult a Washington estate-planning attorney. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
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