{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/64.2-403.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/64.2-403.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/64.2-403.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/64.2-403.html"}],"law_id":67027,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67027,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-403","catch_line":"Execution of wills; requirements","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 64-51; 1968, c. 656, \u00a7 64.1-49; 2012, c. 614.","full_text":"A\n\nNo will shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by the testator, or by some other person in the testator’s presence and by his direction, in such a manner as to make it manifest that the name is intended as a signature.B\n\nA will wholly in the testator’s handwriting is valid without further requirements, provided that the fact that a will is wholly in the testator’s handwriting and signed by the testator is proved by at least two disinterested witnesses.C\n\nA will not wholly in the testator’s handwriting is not valid unless the signature of the testator is made, or the will is acknowledged by the testator, in the presence of at least two competent witnesses who are present at the same time and who subscribe the will in the presence of the testator. No form of attestation of the witnesses shall be necessary.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242930,"text":"No will shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by the testator, or by some other person in the testator’s presence and by his direction, in such a manner as to make it manifest that the name is intended as a signature.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":242931,"text":"A will wholly in the testator’s handwriting is valid without further requirements, provided that the fact that a will is wholly in the testator’s handwriting and signed by the testator is proved by at least two disinterested witnesses.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":242932,"text":"A will not wholly in the testator’s handwriting is not valid unless the signature of the testator is made, or the will is acknowledged by the testator, in the presence of at least two competent witnesses who are present at the same time and who subscribe the will in the presence of the testator. No form of attestation of the witnesses shall be necessary.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14409,"edition_id":1,"name":"Requisites and Execution","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13480,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:02","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:02","permalink":{"id":273123,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14409,"identifier":"1","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1","url":"\/64.2\/II\/4\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13480,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wills","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12863,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","permalink":{"id":273121,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13480,"identifier":"4","token":"64.2\/II\/4","url":"\/64.2\/II\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12863,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wills and Decedents' Estates","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12723,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:57","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:57","permalink":{"id":272911,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12863,"identifier":"II","token":"64.2\/II","url":"\/64.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12723,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries","identifier":"64.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":272781,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12723,"identifier":"64.2","token":"64.2","url":"\/64.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":84900,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-400","catch_line":"Separate writing identifying recipients of tangible personal property; liability for distribution; action to recover property","url":"\/64.2-400\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-400","metadata":false},{"id":86004,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-401","catch_line":"Who may make a will; what estate may be disposed of","url":"\/64.2-401\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-401","metadata":false},{"id":57541,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-402","catch_line":"Advertisements to draw wills prohibited; penalty","url":"\/64.2-402\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-402","metadata":false},{"id":67027,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-403","catch_line":"Execution of wills; requirements","url":"\/64.2-403\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-403","metadata":false},{"id":80803,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-404","catch_line":"Writings intended as wills","url":"\/64.2-404\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-404","metadata":false},{"id":66614,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-404.1","catch_line":"Reformation of will to correct mistakes or achieve decedent's tax objectives","url":"\/64.2-404.1\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-404.1","metadata":false},{"id":65138,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-405","catch_line":"Interested persons as competent witnesses","url":"\/64.2-405\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-405","metadata":false},{"id":78760,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-406","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/64.2-406\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-406","metadata":false},{"id":55752,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-407","catch_line":"Will of personal estate of nonresidents","url":"\/64.2-407\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-407","metadata":false},{"id":67704,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-408","catch_line":"Presumption of formal execution of wills made by persons in military service; will of personal estate of persons in military service and seamen","url":"\/64.2-408\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-408","metadata":false},{"id":62443,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-409","catch_line":"Wills of living persons lodged for safekeeping with clerks of certain courts","url":"\/64.2-409\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-409","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57541,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-402","catch_line":"Advertisements to draw wills prohibited; penalty","url":"\/64.2-402\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-402","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":80803,"structure_id":14409,"section_number":"64.2-404","catch_line":"Writings intended as wills","url":"\/64.2-404\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-404","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/64.2-403\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1968, chapter 656; in 2012, chapter 614<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80803,"section_number":"64.2-404","catch_line":"Writings intended as wills","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-404\/"},{"id":55752,"section_number":"64.2-407","catch_line":"Will of personal estate of nonresidents","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-407\/"},{"id":67704,"section_number":"64.2-408","catch_line":"Presumption of formal execution of wills made by persons in military service; will of personal estate of persons in military service and seamen","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-408\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":273137,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67027,"identifier":"64.2-403","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-403","url":"\/64.2-403\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/64.2-403\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/1\/64.2-403","dublin_core":{"Title":"Execution of wills; requirements","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 64.2-403","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> No will<\/span> shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by the testator, or by some other person in the testator’s presence and by his direction, in such a manner as to make it manifest that the name is intended as a signature. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A will<\/span> wholly in the testator’s handwriting is valid without further requirements, provided that the fact<\/span> that a will<\/span> is wholly in the testator’s handwriting and signed by the testator is proved by at least two disinterested witnesses. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A will<\/span> not wholly in the testator’s handwriting is not valid unless the signature of the testator is made, or the will<\/span> is acknowledged by the testator, in the presence of at least two competent witnesses who are present at the same time and who subscribe the will<\/span> in the presence of the testator. No form of attestation of the witnesses shall be necessary. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEXECUTION OF WILLS; REQUIREMENTS (\u00a7 64.2-403)\n\nA. No will shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by the testator, or\nby some other person in the testator’s presence and by his direction, in\nsuch a manner as to make it manifest that the name is intended as a signature.\n\nB. A will wholly in the testator’s handwriting is valid without further\nrequirements, provided that the fact that a will is wholly in the\ntestator’s handwriting and signed by the testator is proved by at least\ntwo disinterested witnesses.\n\nC. A will not wholly in the testator’s handwriting is not valid unless the\nsignature of the testator is made, or the will is acknowledged by the testator,\nin the presence of at least two competent witnesses who are present at the same\ntime and who subscribe the will in the presence of the testator. No form of\nattestation of the witnesses shall be necessary.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 64-51; 1968, c. 656, \u00a7 64.1-49; 2012, c. 614.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}