853.04 Self-proved will.

(1) One-step procedure. A will may be simultaneously executed, attested and made self-proved by the affidavit of the testator and witnesses. The affidavit must be made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the state in which execution occurs and must be evidenced by the officer's certificate, under official seal, in substantially the following form:

State of ....

County of ....

I, ...., the testator, sign my name to this instrument this .... day of ...., and being first duly sworn, declare to the undersigned authority all of the following:

1. I execute this instrument as my will.

2. I sign this will willingly, or willingly direct another to sign for me.

3. I execute this will as my free and voluntary act for the purposes expressed therein.

4. I am 18 years of age or older, of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

Testator: ....

We, ...., ...., the witnesses, being first duly sworn, sign our names to this instrument and declare to the undersigned authority all of the following:

1. The testator executes this instrument as his or her will.

2. The testator signs it willingly, or willingly directs another to sign for him or her.

3. Each of us, in the conscious presence of the testator, signs this will as a witness.

4. To the best of our knowledge, the testator is 18 years of age or older, of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

Witness: ....

Witness: ....

Subscribed and sworn to before me by ...., the testator, and by ...., and ...., witnesses, this .... day of ...., .....

(Seal) ....

(Signed): ....

(Official capacity of officer): ....

(2) Two-step procedure. An attested will may be made self-proved at any time after its execution by the affidavit of the testator and witnesses. The affidavit must be made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the state in which the affidavit occurs and must be evidenced by the officer's certificate, under official seal, attached or annexed to the will in substantially the following form:

State of ....

County of ....

We, ...., ...., and ...., the testator and the witnesses whose names are signed to the foregoing instrument, being first duly sworn, do declare to the undersigned authority all of the following:

1. The testator executed the instrument as his or her will.

2. The testator signed willingly, or willingly directed another to sign for him or her.

3. The testator executed the will as a free and voluntary act.

4. Each of the witnesses, in the conscious presence of the testator, signed the will as witness.

5. To the best of the knowledge of each witness, the testator was, at the time of execution, 18 years of age or older, of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

Testator: ....

Witness: ....

Witness: ....

Subscribed and sworn to before me by ...., the testator, and by ...., and ...., witnesses, this .... day of ...., .....

(Seal) ....

(Signed): ....

(Official capacity of officer): ....

(3) Effect of affidavit. The effect of an affidavit in substantially the form under sub. (1) or (2) is as provided in s. 856.16.

History: 1997 a. 188; 1999 a. 32; 2005 a. 216.