Updated June 01, 2022
A Massachusetts self-proving affidavit form is used to validate a testator’s (creator of a will) last will and testament through acknowledging signatures from witnesses in the presence of a notary public. This type of document is advantageous as it simplifies the process a court must go through to check the legitimacy of a will. Furthermore, witnessing parties to a will who have signed a self-proving affidavit will most likely not have to physically appear before the court once the testator dies. In the State of Massachusetts, the law requires two (2) witnesses to sign this document, and a notary public must observe the signatures of the witnesses and the testator. A self-proving affidavit must be attached to the last will and testament once completed.
Laws
- Statute – § 2-504
- Signing Requirements – Two (2) witnesses and a notary public.
How to Write
Step 1 – Download Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx), or OpenDocument.
Step 2 – The Testator must enter their Name, the Date, and their Signature into the fields provided in the first section of the document.
Step 3 – The Witnesses must enter their Names into the empty fields in the second paragraph of the document. Both Witnesses must inscribe their Signatures below that and include the County and State in which the form was signed.
Step 4 – The Notary Public who witnessed the Signatures must enter the Testator’s Name, the Names of both Witnesses, and the Date into the fields provided in the ‘Notary Acknowledgement’ section. The Notary will complete the document by signing it and stamping their official seal at the bottom.
