Arkansas Requirements To Execute a Will

Any person of sound mind eighteen (18) years of age or older may make a will. ¹

Arkansas Will Signing Requirements

Will Signing Requirements: The execution of a will, other than holographic, must be by the signature of the testator and of at least two (2) witnesses. ²

Arkansas Will Witness Requirements

Will Witnessing Requirements: The will may be witnessed by two persons, eighteen (18) years of age or older, competent to be a witness generally in Arkansas. State code allows that persons named as beneficiaries in the will may also be witnesses as long as two disinterested persons also witness the signing. ³

Arkansas Holographic Wills

Generally, holographic wills are accepted if written and signed entirely by the testator. When the entire will and the signature is written in the proper handwriting of the testator, the will may be established by the evidence of at least three (3) credible disinterested witnesses to the handwriting and signature of the testator, notwithstanding there may be no attesting witnesses to the will. ⁴

Revoking An Arkansas Will

An Arkansas will can be revoked by subsequent will, codicil or by being burned, torn, cancelled, obliterated, or destroyed, with the intent and for the purpose of revoking it by the testator or by another person in the testator’s presence and by the testator’s direction. ⁵

Summary of Arkansas Will Requirements

Anyone 18 years of age or older and of sound mind can write and sign a will in Arkansas. The will should be witnessed by two persons having no financial interest in the will. The witnessed may be named as a beneficiary in the will as long as two other persons witness the signing. Witnesses to the testator signing the will are not required as long as at least three persons can later verify that the will writing and signature are those of the testator.