Wash. Rev. Code » Title 11 · Chapter 11.12
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 11.12.020 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Except as provided in RCW 11.12.400 through 11.12.491, every will shall be in writing signed by the testator or by some other person under the testator's direction in the testator's presence or electronic presence, and shall be attested by two or more competent witnesses, by subscribing their names to the will, or by signing an affidavit that complies with RCW 11.20.020(2), while in the presence or electronic presence of the testator and at the testator's direction or request: PROVIDED, That a last will and testament, executed in the mode prescribed by the law of the place where executed or of the testator's domicile, either at the time of the will's execution or at the time of the testator's death, shall be deemed to be legally executed, and shall be of the same force and effect as if executed in the mode prescribed by the laws of this state. Any will executed by a testator and witnesses who are not in the same physical location but in the electronic presence of one another in accordance with this section may be executed, attested, or acknowledged in counterparts, which together shall be considered a single document.
(2) This section shall be applied to all wills, whenever executed, including those subject to pending probate proceedings.
[ 2021 c 140 s 1013; 1990 c 79 s 1; 1965 c 145 s 11.12.020. Prior: 1929 c 21 s 1; 1917 c 156 s 25; RRS s 1395; prior: Code 1881 s 1319; 1863 p 207 ss 53, 54; 1860 p 170 ss 20, 21. FORMER PART OF SECTION; re nuncupative wills, now codified as RCW 11.12.025.]

Notes:

Effective date—2021 c 140 ss 1001-1016: See note following RCW 11.12.400.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 33 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1952–2026 · leading case: Carlton v. Black, 153 Wash. 2d 152 (Wash. 2004).
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Carlton v. Black, 153 Wash. 2d 152 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 11× “020 explains how a party may petition a court to admit a will to probate in an ex parte proceeding, here the 1993 will is a lost will; therefore, the specific lost will statute, RCW 11.20.070, and not the general statute applies.”
In Re Est. of Black, 102 P.3d 796 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 11× “070 and RCW 11.12.020. Although RCW 11.20.020 explains how a party may petition a court to admit a will to probate in an ex parte proceeding, here the 1993 will is a lost will; therefore, the specific lost will statute, RCW 11.”
In Re The Matter Of The Est. Of: Bert W. Hook, 374 P.3d 215 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 11× “¶1 A will is not “executed” under RCW 11.12.020 until the occurrence of the last formal act necessary to make the will valid.”
In Re Est. of O'Brien, 749 P.2d 154 (Wash. 1988). · cites it 7× “" As a result of that finding, the trial court held that the deeds did not vest title during grantor's life nor did they satisfy the formalities of execution required by the wills statute, RCW 11.12.020; thus, the deeds were ineffective.”
Carlton v. Black, 116 Wash. App. 476 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “These need not be the two attesting witnesses to the original will as required by RCW 11.12.020(1). 1 Ms. Black produced the evidence called for in RCW 11.”
In Re Est. of Black, 66 P.3d 670 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “These need not be the two attesting witnesses to the original will as required by RCW 11.12.020(1). [1] Ms. Black produced the evidence called for in RCW 11.”
Matter of Est. of Price, 871 P.2d 1079 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 3× “RCW 11.12.020 requires only that: Every will shall be in writing signed by the testator .”
In Re Mitchell's Est., 249 P.2d 385 (Wash. 1952). · cites it 3× “) and RCW 11.12.020, the applicable part of which is: “Every will shall be in writing signed by the testator or testatrix, .”
Matter of Est. of Lindsay, 957 P.2d 818 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 3× “But RCW 11.12.020 does not require that the testator sign the will in the presence of the witnesses, nor does it require that the witnesses sign in the presence of each other.”
Humphries v. Riveland, 407 P.2d 967 (Wash. 1965). · cites it 2× “[2] In the Jennings case, we referred to the Statute of Wills (RCW 11.12.020) and to the statutory provisions relating to the conveyance of real estate or any interest therein (RCW 64.”
In re the Trust of Mable Meeks, aka L/M Meeks No. 1 Trust, 421 P.3d 963 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “RCW 11.12.020(1) requires that a will satisfy three formalities: Every will shall be [1] in writing [2] signed by the testator or by some other person under the testator’s direction in the testator’s presence, and shall be [3] attested by two or more competent witnesses, by…”
Trimm v. Davis, 977 P.2d 591 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “Kessler on March 22, 1996, and at a later date signed an Affidavit of Attesting Witnesses![ 49 ] The formal requirements for the execution of a will are set out in RCW 11.12.020, which provides in pertinent part: Every will shall be in writing signed by the testator or by some…”
Show all 33 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.12.020(1) — 15 cases
Carlton v. Black, 153 Wash. 2d 152 (Wash. 2004). “020 explains how a party may petition a court to admit a will to probate in an ex parte proceeding, here the 1993 will is a lost will; therefore, the specific lost will statute, RCW 11.20.070, and not the general statute applies.”
In Re Est. of Black, 102 P.3d 796 (Wash. 2004). “070 and RCW 11.12.020. Although RCW 11.20.020 explains how a party may petition a court to admit a will to probate in an ex parte proceeding, here the 1993 will is a lost will; therefore, the specific lost will statute, RCW 11.”
In Re The Matter Of The Est. Of: Bert W. Hook, 374 P.3d 215 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “¶1 A will is not “executed” under RCW 11.12.020 until the occurrence of the last formal act necessary to make the will valid.”
Carlton v. Black, 116 Wash. App. 476 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “These need not be the two attesting witnesses to the original will as required by RCW 11.12.020(1). 1 Ms. Black produced the evidence called for in RCW 11.”
In Re Est. of Black, 66 P.3d 670 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “These need not be the two attesting witnesses to the original will as required by RCW 11.12.020(1). [1] Ms. Black produced the evidence called for in RCW 11.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.12.020(2) — 1 case
Thomas v. Wright, 134 P.3d 1197 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
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