Short answer. 2 witnesses. A self-proving affidavit is sworn before a notary. Handwritten wills: yes.
At a glance
- Witnesses
- The testator signs or acknowledges in front of two witnesses, and both sign (30-2327, per Nolo).
"you must sign or acknowledge your will in front of two witnesses"
- Beneficiary as witness
- Nolo reads 30-2330 this way: a witness who also inherits may lose whatever the will gives beyond their intestate share.
- Self-proving affidavit
- Optional. Under 30-2329, as Nolo describes it, the testator and the two witnesses swear to an affidavit in front of a notary, which speeds up probate.
- Handwritten wills
- Recognized if the signature, the material provisions and the date are in the testator's handwriting.
"is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed"
- Electronic wills
- No: Nolo's Nebraska guide (August 2025) says a will can't be a digital file, audio or video.
"Nebraska currently doesn't allow e-wills"
- Remote witnesses
- Not provided for: no Nebraska law we found lets witnesses appear by video, and e-wills aren't authorized (Nolo's Nebraska page, updated August 2025).
- Minimum age
- Any individual at least 18 (30-2326, per Nolo).
"an individual 18 years of age or older"
Signing day here
- Witnesses to bring: Bring 2 witnesses.
- Notary and the self-proving affidavit: Have a notary there for the self-proving affidavit. The official page we read names a notary public.
The full list, with ID and who shouldn't witness: signing-day checklist for Nebraska.
MCC Solutions provides notaries and witnesses for signings in New Jersey (estate planning signings, the estate planning signing package, witness services). Elsewhere, a local notary can help with the self-proving affidavit.
Sources
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 30-2328, Holographic will (Nebraska Legislature) (checked November 2026)
- Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Nebraska (Nolo, updated August 2025) (checked November 2026)
Sourced from official pages; a few facts from vetted secondary sources, marked "(secondary source)".
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Have a lawyer prepare or review your will. Checked November 2026 against the official pages listed above. Rules change, and how a rule applies to one will is a question for a lawyer licensed in the state. A notary can't give legal advice or draft a will.
Common questions
How many witnesses does a will need in Nebraska?
2. The testator signs or acknowledges in front of two witnesses, and both sign (30-2327, per Nolo).
Does a will need a notary in Nebraska?
Not to be valid on the pages we read; the notary is for the self-proving affidavit. Optional. Under 30-2329, as Nolo describes it, the testator and the two witnesses swear to an affidavit in front of a notary, which speeds up probate.
Can a beneficiary witness a will in Nebraska?
Nolo reads 30-2330 this way: a witness who also inherits may lose whatever the will gives beyond their intestate share.
Is a handwritten will valid in Nebraska?
Recognized if the signature, the material provisions and the date are in the testator's handwriting.
Are electronic wills allowed in Nebraska?
No: Nolo's Nebraska guide (August 2025) says a will can't be a digital file, audio or video.
How old do you have to be to make a will in Nebraska?
Any individual at least 18 (30-2326, per Nolo).
All states: will witness requirements by state · Montana · Nevada