Do You Need a Notary for a Will in Arkansas?

No, not for the will itself.

The signing rule on the pages we read asks for at least two witnesses, per the statute as quoted by the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 2009. A notary isn't part of that rule; one comes in for the self-proving affidavit, where it's used.

In the source's wording

"the signature of the testator and of at least two (2) witnesses"

From the sources listed below, checked November 2026.

What else the signing needs

Self-proving affidavit: Yes: a notary takes the sworn affidavit of the testator and both witnesses, which lets the court accept the will without calling them (Nolo on Ark. Code 28-25-106).
Interested witnesses: Use witnesses who get nothing under the will: Nolo reads 28-25-102 as putting a witness-beneficiary's gift at risk.
Remote or video signing: No: witnesses must be physically present when the testator signs or acknowledges the will, per Nolo's Arkansas page (updated May 2023), and no statute provides for e-wills.
"They must be physically present when you either sign or acknowledge your will"
Electronic wills: No statute for e-wills yet; Nolo's Arkansas guide (May 2023) says a will must be a paper document.
"Arkansas currently doesn't allow e-wills"
Handwritten wills: Recognized if the entire body and signature are in the testator's handwriting; three credible, disinterested witnesses must be able to establish the handwriting (Nolo, citing 28-25-104).
"three credible, disinterested witnesses must be able to establish that it is your handwriting"
Who can make a will: Adults of sound mind, 18 and up, under Ark. Code 28-25-101 as Nolo summarizes it.
"18 years of age or older"

Next step

Plan an in-person signing, with the witnesses in the room. Online notarization of a will is generally not available through us: New Jersey's remote notarization law leaves wills and codicils out for signers outside the U.S. (N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.10), and states set their own rules on video witnessing. Here: No: witnesses must be physically present when the testator signs or acknowledges the will, per Nolo's Arkansas page (updated May 2023), and no statute provides for e-wills.

Need a notary for the self-proving affidavit in Arkansas? We can look for a mobile notary commissioned there; bring your own witnesses (two).

Request a mobile notary in Arkansas

If a local notary in Arkansas does it: A reasonable fee, disclosed to and agreed by the client before the act, according to the 2025 Handbook; no dollar cap confirmed, under the state's fee rules (Arkansas notary fees).

Sources

Norwood v. Sellers, 2009 Ark. App. 497, quoting Ark. Code 28-25-103 (Arkansas Judiciary) (checked November 2026)
Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Arkansas (Nolo, updated May 2023) (checked November 2026)

Sourced from official pages; a few facts from vetted secondary sources, marked "(secondary source)".

We are not lawyers, and this is general information, not legal advice. Checked November 2026. Rules change, and whoever receives the document decides what it accepts; we can't guarantee acceptance.

Common questions

Does a will have to be notarized in Arkansas?

No, not for the will itself. The signing rule on the pages we read asks for at least two witnesses, per the statute as quoted by the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 2009. A notary isn't part of that rule; one comes in for the self-proving affidavit, where it's used.

Where does a notary come in for a Arkansas will?

The self-proving affidavit. Yes: a notary takes the sworn affidavit of the testator and both witnesses, which lets the court accept the will without calling them (Nolo on Ark. Code 28-25-106).

Can a will be signed over video in Arkansas?

No: witnesses must be physically present when the testator signs or acknowledges the will, per Nolo's Arkansas page (updated May 2023), and no statute provides for e-wills.

Can a beneficiary witness a Arkansas will?

Use witnesses who get nothing under the will: Nolo reads 28-25-102 as putting a witness-beneficiary's gift at risk.

Keep going

A will in another state: Arizona · California · every state

Do you need a notary for a will in Arkansas?