A Florida will must be signed at the end by the person making it, in the presence of two attesting witnesses who also sign in each other’s presence. Adding a self-proving affidavit before a notary lets the court accept the will without tracking down the witnesses years later.
What this covers
- Florida-compliant will signings
- Self-proving affidavits
- Naming a personal representative
- Guardianship for minor children
- Reviewing an out-of-state will
- Updates after a marriage, birth or move
Florida’s execution requirements are unforgiving, and a will that does not meet them may not be honored. It has to be signed at the end by you, in front of two witnesses, who then sign in your presence and in the presence of each other. We add a self-proving affidavit at signing — a notarized attachment that lets the court admit the will without hunting down witnesses who may have moved away or passed on.
Beyond the mechanics, a will is where you name a personal representative to handle your affairs, name a guardian if you have minor children, and say clearly who receives what. Without one, Florida’s intestacy statutes decide for you, and the result is frequently not what the family expected — particularly in blended families and second marriages. If you already have a will from another state or from decades ago, bring it in; often it needs a review rather than a rewrite.