{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/64.2-452.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/64.2-452.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/64.2-452.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/64.2-452.html"}],"law_id":78942,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78942,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-452","catch_line":"How will may be made self-proved; affidavits of witnesses","history":"1972, c. 116, \u00a7 64.1-87.1; 1977, c. 333; 1979, c. 322; 1983, c. 83; 1985, c. 429; 1986, c. 524; 1990, c. 64; 2012, c. 614.","full_text":"A will, at the time of its execution or at any subsequent date, may be made self-proved by the acknowledgment thereof by the testator and the affidavits of the attesting witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the Commonwealth or the laws of the state where acknowledgment occurred, or before an officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the United States Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed, and evidenced by the officer’s certificate, attached or annexed to the will. The officer’s certificate shall be substantially as follows in form and content:\n\t\tSTATE OF VIRGINIA\n\t\tCOUNTY\/CITY OF _____________________\n\t\tBefore me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared _____________________, _____________________, and _____________________, known to me to be the testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument and, all of these persons being by me first duly sworn, _____________________, the testator, declared to me and to the witnesses in my presence that said instrument is his last will and testament and that he had willingly signed or directed another to sign the same for him, and executed it in the presence of said witnesses as his free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed; that said witnesses stated before me that the foregoing will was executed and acknowledged by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of said witnesses who, in his presence and at his request, and in the presence of each other, did subscribe their names thereto as attesting witnesses on the day of the date of said will, and that the testator, at the time of the execution of said will, was over the age of eighteen years and of sound and disposing mind and memory.\n\t\t________________________________________Testator\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\tSubscribed, sworn and acknowledged before me by_____________________, the testator, and subscribed and sworn before me by_____________________ and _____________________, witnesses, this __________ day of _______________, A.D., __________.\n\t\tSIGNED ________________________________________\n\t\t________________________________________(OFFICIAL CAPACITY OF OFFICER)\n\t\tThe affidavits of any such witnesses taken as provided by this section, whenever made, shall be accepted by the court as if it had been taken ore tenus before such court, notwithstanding that the officer did not attach or affix his official seal thereto. Any codicil that is self-proved under the provisions of this section that, by its terms, expressly confirms, ratifies, and republishes a will except as altered by the codicil shall have the effect of self-proving the will whether or not the will was so executed originally.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":282767,"text":"A will, at the time of its execution or at any subsequent date, may be made self-proved by the acknowledgment thereof by the testator and the affidavits of the attesting witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the Commonwealth or the laws of the state where acknowledgment occurred, or before an officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the United States Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed, and evidenced by the officer’s certificate, attached or annexed to the will. The officer’s certificate shall be substantially as follows in form and content:\n\t\tSTATE OF VIRGINIA\n\t\tCOUNTY\/CITY OF _____________________\n\t\tBefore me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared _____________________, _____________________, and _____________________, known to me to be the testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument and, all of these persons being by me first duly sworn, _____________________, the testator, declared to me and to the witnesses in my presence that said instrument is his last will and testament and that he had willingly signed or directed another to sign the same for him, and executed it in the presence of said witnesses as his free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed; that said witnesses stated before me that the foregoing will was executed and acknowledged by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of said witnesses who, in his presence and at his request, and in the presence of each other, did subscribe their names thereto as attesting witnesses on the day of the date of said will, and that the testator, at the time of the execution of said will, was over the age of eighteen years and of sound and disposing mind and memory.\n\t\t________________________________________Testator\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\tSubscribed, sworn and acknowledged before me by_____________________, the testator, and subscribed and sworn before me by_____________________ and _____________________, witnesses, this __________ day of _______________, A.D., __________.\n\t\tSIGNED ________________________________________\n\t\t________________________________________(OFFICIAL CAPACITY OF OFFICER)\n\t\tThe affidavits of any such witnesses taken as provided by this section, whenever made, shall be accepted by the court as if it had been taken ore tenus before such court, notwithstanding that the officer did not attach or affix his official seal thereto. Any codicil that is self-proved under the provisions of this section that, by its terms, expressly confirms, ratifies, and republishes a will except as altered by the codicil shall have the effect of self-proving the will whether or not the will was so executed originally.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13481,"edition_id":1,"name":"Probate","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13480,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","permalink":{"id":273307,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13481,"identifier":"5","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5","url":"\/64.2\/II\/4\/5\/","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":71870,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-443","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of probate of wills","url":"\/64.2-443\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-443","metadata":false},{"id":81738,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-444","catch_line":"Clerks may probate wills","url":"\/64.2-444\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-444","metadata":false},{"id":72738,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-445","catch_line":"Appeal from order of clerk","url":"\/64.2-445\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-445","metadata":false},{"id":63573,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-446","catch_line":"Motion for probate; process against persons interested in probate","url":"\/64.2-446\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-446","metadata":false},{"id":82982,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-447","catch_line":"Use of depositions","url":"\/64.2-447\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-447","metadata":false},{"id":81785,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-448","catch_line":"Complaint to impeach or establish a will; limitation of action; venue","url":"\/64.2-448\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-448","metadata":false},{"id":54444,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-449","catch_line":"Procedure in probate proceedings","url":"\/64.2-449\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-449","metadata":false},{"id":79419,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-450","catch_line":"Probate of copy of will proved outside the Commonwealth; authenticated copy","url":"\/64.2-450\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-450","metadata":false},{"id":80084,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-451","catch_line":"Appointment of curator; when made; his duties","url":"\/64.2-451\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-451","metadata":false},{"id":78942,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-452","catch_line":"How will may be made self-proved; affidavits of witnesses","url":"\/64.2-452\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-452","metadata":false},{"id":73914,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-453","catch_line":"How will may be made self-proved; acknowledgment of witnesses","url":"\/64.2-453\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-453","metadata":false},{"id":68103,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-454","catch_line":"Appointment of administrator for prosecution of action for personal injury or wrongful death against or on behalf of estate of deceased resident or nonresident","url":"\/64.2-454\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-454","metadata":false},{"id":63901,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-454.1","catch_line":"Will contest; presumption of undue influence","url":"\/64.2-454.1\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-454.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":80084,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-451","catch_line":"Appointment of curator; when made; his duties","url":"\/64.2-451\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-451","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":73914,"structure_id":13481,"section_number":"64.2-453","catch_line":"How will may be made self-proved; acknowledgment of witnesses","url":"\/64.2-453\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-453","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/64.2-452\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1972. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 116 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1972 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 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 1977, chapter 333; in 1979, chapter 322; in 1983, chapter 83; in 1985, chapter 429; in 1986, chapter 524; in 1990, chapter 64; in 2012, chapter 614<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":273345,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78942,"identifier":"64.2-452","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-452","url":"\/64.2-452\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/64.2-452\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-452","dublin_core":{"Title":"How will may be made self-proved; affidavits of witnesses","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 64.2-452","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A will<\/span>, at the time of its execution or at any subsequent date, may be made self-proved by the acknowledgment thereof by the testator and the affidavits<\/span> of the attesting witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths<\/span> under the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth or the laws<\/span> of the state where acknowledgment occurred, or before an officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the United States Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed, and evidenced by the officer’s certificate, attached or annexed to the will<\/span>. The officer’s certificate shall be substantially as follows in form and content:\n\t\tSTATE OF VIRGINIA\n\t\tCOUNTY\/CITY OF _____________________\n\t\tBefore me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared _____________________, _____________________, and _____________________, known to me to be the testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument and, all of these persons being by me first duly sworn, _____________________, the testator, declared to me and to the witnesses in my presence that said instrument is his last will<\/span> and testament and that he had willingly signed or directed another to sign the same for him, and executed it in the presence of said witnesses as his free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed; that said witnesses stated before me that the foregoing will<\/span> was executed and acknowledged by the testator as his last will<\/span> and testament in the presence of said witnesses who, in his presence and at his request, and in the presence of each other, did subscribe their names thereto as attesting witnesses on the day of the date of said will<\/span>, and that the testator, at the time of the execution of said will<\/span>, was over the age of eighteen years and of sound and disposing mind and memory.\n\t\t________________________________________Testator\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\tSubscribed, sworn and acknowledged before me by_____________________, the testator, and subscribed and sworn before me by_____________________ and _____________________, witnesses, this __________ day of _______________, A.D., __________.\n\t\tSIGNED ________________________________________\n\t\t________________________________________(OFFICIAL CAPACITY OF OFFICER)\n\t\tThe affidavits<\/span> of any such witnesses taken as provided by this section, whenever made, shall be accepted by the court<\/span> as if it had been taken ore tenus<\/span> before such court<\/span>, notwithstanding that the officer did not attach or affix his official seal thereto. Any codicil that is self-proved under the provisions of this section that, by its terms, expressly confirms, ratifies, and republishes a will<\/span> except as altered by the codicil shall have the effect of self-proving the will<\/span> whether or not the will<\/span> was so executed originally.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHOW WILL MAY BE MADE SELF-PROVED; AFFIDAVITS OF WITNESSES (\u00a7 64.2-452)\n\nA will, at the time of its execution or at any subsequent date, may be made\nself-proved by the acknowledgment thereof by the testator and the affidavits of\nthe attesting witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer\noaths under the laws of the Commonwealth or the laws of the state where\nacknowledgment occurred, or before an officer of the foreign service of the\nUnited States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of\nthe United States Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in\nwhich the act is performed, and evidenced by the officer’s certificate,\nattached or annexed to the will. The officer’s certificate shall be\nsubstantially as follows in form and content:\n\t\tSTATE OF VIRGINIA\n\t\tCOUNTY\/CITY OF _____________________\n\t\tBefore me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared\n_____________________, _____________________, and _____________________, known\nto me to be the testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed\nto the attached or foregoing instrument and, all of these persons being by me\nfirst duly sworn, _____________________, the testator, declared to me and to the\nwitnesses in my presence that said instrument is his last will and testament and\nthat he had willingly signed or directed another to sign the same for him, and\nexecuted it in the presence of said witnesses as his free and voluntary act for\nthe purposes therein expressed; that said witnesses stated before me that the\nforegoing will was executed and acknowledged by the testator as his last will\nand testament in the presence of said witnesses who, in his presence and at his\nrequest, and in the presence of each other, did subscribe their names thereto as\nattesting witnesses on the day of the date of said will, and that the testator,\nat the time of the execution of said will, was over the age of eighteen years\nand of sound and disposing mind and memory.\n\t\t________________________________________Testator\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\t________________________________________Witness\n\t\tSubscribed, sworn and acknowledged before me by_____________________, the\ntestator, and subscribed and sworn before me by_____________________ and\n_____________________, witnesses, this __________ day of _______________, A.D.,\n__________.\n\t\tSIGNED ________________________________________\n\t\t________________________________________(OFFICIAL CAPACITY OF OFFICER)\n\t\tThe affidavits of any such witnesses taken as provided by this section,\nwhenever made, shall be accepted by the court as if it had been taken ore tenus\nbefore such court, notwithstanding that the officer did not attach or affix his\nofficial seal thereto. Any codicil that is self-proved under the provisions of\nthis section that, by its terms, expressly confirms, ratifies, and republishes a\nwill except as altered by the codicil shall have the effect of self-proving the\nwill whether or not the will was so executed originally.\n\nHISTORY: 1972, c. 116, \u00a7 64.1-87.1; 1977, c. 333; 1979, c. 322; 1983, c. 83;\n1985, c. 429; 1986, c. 524; 1990, c. 64; 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}}