Michigan State Law Governing Wills

Michigan Compiled Laws 386-1998-II-5

Michigan Will Age Requirements

Age Requirements: An individual eighteen or more years of age who has sufficient mental capacity may make a will. An individual has sufficient mental capacity to make a will if all of the following requirements are met: (a) has the ability to understand that he or she is providing for the disposition of his or her property after death, has the ability to know the nature and extent of his or her property, knows the natural objects of his or her bounty, and has the ability to understand in a reasonable manner the general nature and effect of his or her act in signing the will. ¹

Michigan Will Signing Requirements

Will Signing Requirements: The will must be in writing and signed by the testator or in the testator’s name by some other individual in the testator’s conscious presence and by the testator’s direction.

Michigan Will Witness Requirements

Will Witnessing Requirements: The will must be signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after he or she witnessed either the signing of the will or the testator’s acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will.

Michigan Self-Proved Wills

Michigan allows self-proved wills. A will may be simultaneously executed, attested, and made self-proved by acknowledgment of the will by the testator and 2 witnesses’ sworn statements, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the state in which execution occurs and evidenced by the officer’s certificate, under official seal.