Making a will is similar in every state, but there are differences to know. Each U.S. state has its own distinct requirements for a will to be valid. When making an online will in Connecticut, you want to follow the specific statutes that the state requires so that your will is considered valid. You should use an online will that is designed and customized for Connecticut.
Can I make a will online in Connecticut?
Yes, you can make a will online in Connecticut. To do so, use an online will making service. We recommend USLegalWills to make a will online.
Here are the legal requirements to make an online will in Connecticut:
- The person writing the will, known as the Testator, has to be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind.
- The will must be in writing. The state of Connecticut does not allow digital-only wills, so you must print out an online will.
- The will must be signed by the Testator.
- The will must be signed by at least two witnesses. The witnesses should not be beneficiaries in the will, or they could lose any gift left to them in the will. The witnesses must sign in front of the Testator.
Does Connecticut require a notarized will?
No, you do not need to notarize a will for it to be legal in Connecticut.
When a will is presented in the probate court, it must be validated. If you have your will notarized, it can help the probate court valide your will faster. In most cases, however, it is not the will itself that is notarized. Instead, there is a separate document called a “self-proving affidavit” that is signed in front of a notary public.
In Connecticut, the signature of the two witnesses must be notarized in a separate, self-proving affidavit and attached to the will in order for the will to be “self-proven.”
Can I name an executor in Connecticut?
Yes, an executor can be named in a will and you can select the executor if you make your online will in Connecticut. The executor is the person you choose to handle settling your estate and who ensures that the will is followed. It is a good idea to name an executor, and you should choose someone who you know and trust. If you do not name an executor, then the probate court will select someone.
The only requirement to be qualified to serve as an executor in Connecticut is that the person must be at least 18 years of age. You are free to name any adult that you trust to act as your executor, and the court must appoint them unless there is irrefutable evidence that they are incompetent. You want to choose someone trustworthy and someone who is organized, and you should discuss it with them before you name them in your will.
To name an executor who lives out-of-state, there are some specific guidelines in Connecticut:
- A Connecticut nonresident must appoint the judge of the probate court in the county where the estate is being probated as an in-state agent to accept legal documents.
Do I need an attorney to make a will in Connecticut?
No, an attorney is not required to make a will. But if your estate is very large or complex, it is wise to consult an estate planning attorney. If your estate is simple and your will is straightforward, then making a will online is a good option. You want to make sure you follow the guidelines for Connecticut and you use an online will making service that has state-specific templates.
What types of wills are valid in Connecticut?
Whether or not you make your will online, any type of will that meets the federal and state-specific requirements is valid in Connecticut.
Can I make a holographic will in Connecticut?
No, you cannot make a holographic will in Connecticut and it be valid. A holographic will is a handwritten last will and testament. Typically, holographic wills are signed only by the Testator with no other witnesses.
In Connecticut, holographic wills are not considered legally binding. However, Connecticut may recognize a holographic will if it is made in jurisdictions where holographic wills are recognized. This is a tricky legal area that can get complicated very quickly. When making a will in Connecticut, for it to be valid, it must be typed and witnessed.
Can I make a nuncupative or video will in Connecticut?
Oral wills, or nuncupative wills, are not accepted in Connecticut.
In any state, a nuncupative will is considered an emergency or last resort type of will; if the individual is facing imminent death and does not have a written will, a nuncupative will is better than leaving no instructions at all. But Connecticut does not recognize nuncupative wills. If time and health allow, a written, witnessed, and legally binding will is much better for avoiding legal delays when settling the estate.
How is a living will different from an online will in Connecticut?
An advance healthcare directive, also known as a living will, is a legal document in which you decide on medical and end-of-life care decisions. A last will and testament and a living will are not the same thing. They are two separate documents. This is because a last will and testament is usually not consulted until after an individual’s funeral, making it not the right place to leave medical directives or end-of-life care stipulations. Instead, you leave these instructions in a living will (which you should give to the executor of your estate or to another trusted person).
You can make both a last will and testament and a living will online. To make a living will in Connecticut, you can find the form here. To validate a living will in Connecticut, it needs to be signed by two witnesses. It does not need to be notarized, but you can attach a notarized affidavit to it to make it “self-proven.”
Why do I need to make a will online in Connecticut?
If someone dies without a will, then the intestacy laws of Connecticut determines what happens to any property they own. The state will divide it between surviving family members according to intestacy distribution laws, and the state will also appoint a guardian for any minor children. This can become a lengthy legal process, and the estate is often held up in the probate court process for months at a time.
What Can I Include in an Online Will in Connecticut?
Besides naming an executor for the estate, the following can be included when making a will online in Connecticut:
- A guardian for minor children.
- A trusted person to oversee any property left to minor children.
- A trusted person to care for pets.
- How you want to disburse property or gifts to family, friends, charities, or organizations.
- How you want to disburse family heirlooms or sentimental items.
What should not be included in a will in Connecticut?
You should not include medical directives, end-of-life care, or funeral instructions in a last will and testament. It is not until after the funeral that a last will and testament is consulted. If you have medical directives or funeral instructions in your last will and testament, your family might not know about them until after the funeral.
Medical directives and end-of-life care should be put in a living will.
Funeral directions can be put into a separate document that describes your wishes and given to a trusted person, but you can also just talk to a family member to make your wishes known.
Can I change or revoke an online will made in Connecticut?
If a will is made online or otherwise, it is a legally binding document. If you make an online will in Connecticut, as long as it is made following the specific guidelines, it is considered to be a valid will. However, as long as the Testator is living, the will can be changed or revoked.
In Connecticut, you can change or revoke a will by:
- Destroying it physically (by burning, tearing, canceling, obliterating, or any other way that destroys it) with the intent of revoking it.
- Ordering someone else to destroy it physically in front of you.
- Making a new will which states that it revokes the old one or has contradictory terms to the old one.
It’s a good idea to update the will after major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, adoption, or acquisition of significant assets which change the distribution of property, or relocation to another state or country. If you are making a lot of changes in it, you should write a new will entirely and revoke the old one. If you are making only minor additions or changes, you can instead add an amendment (known as a codicil) to it. You must finalize a codicil in the same way the original will is finalized.
How do I finalize an online will in Connecticut?
You want to take these steps to finalize an online will in Connecticut:
- The will must be printed out.
- The will must be signed.
- The will must be signed by two witnesses in the presence of the Testator.
To make a will self-proving in Connecticut, you need a notarized affidavit with the signatures of your two witnesses.
USLegalWills is our recommendation for an online last will and testament. Their pricing is fair and the process of making an online will is easy. You can also create a Living Will. USLegalWills offers a free service to document funeral wishes and save final messages for loved ones.