Illinois Will Signing Day Kit: Illinois's Witness and Notary Rules, Signing-Day Checklist, Witness Sheet and Original-Will Record

Who it is for

Anyone signing a will in Illinois, and the family member, friend or office helping set up the signing. Who can make a will, per the official page: 18 or older, of sound mind.

Not the right fit if

The person signing isn't in Illinois, you still need the will written (that's a lawyer's job), or someone may contest it. Not a will form or a legal service.

Why it is different

• Built only from our Illinois will signing data file, checked November 2026 against 755 ILCS 5/4-3, Signing and attestation (Illinois General Assembly); 755 ILCS 5/4-1, Capacity to make a will (Illinois General Assembly); Public Act 102-0167, Electronic Wills, Electronic Estate Planning Documents, and Remote Witnesses Act (Illinois General Assembly); Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Illinois (Nolo).
• All 7 Illinois facts are confirmed: on an official page, or where none could be read, on a vetted secondary source marked as such.
• Sources: https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/075500050K4-3.htm https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/075500050K4-1.htm https://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/102/102-0167.htm https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/illinois-make-will-31882.html
• For the estate side in Illinois, the Illinois Executor and Estate Kit: Gross value of the personal estate, not counting motor vehicles registered with the Secretary of State, up to $150,000 for deaths on or after August 15, 2025 (Public Act 104-0346); $100,000 before.

What is inside

• Start here. The 7 confirmed Illinois facts at a glance.
• Illinois signing-day checklist. Bring 2 witnesses. The rule: Two or more credible witnesses, who attest in the testator's presence. Pick witnesses who get nothing under the will and aren't married to someone who does. If a beneficiary would have to witness, stop and call the lawyer first: A witness who stands to inherit under the will may lose that inheritance (Nolo, citing 755 ILCS 5/4-6). No self-proving affidavit to arrange for this state: No separate affidavit is needed. Per Nolo's Illinois page, a will that is signed and witnessed correctly is self-proved without a self-proving affidavit, and a notary isn't needed to make the will legal. The rule here: A witness who stands to inherit under the will may lose that inheritance (Nolo, citing 755 ILCS 5/4-6). The testator signs (or acknowledges the signature) while the witnesses watch, then each witness signs. Remote witnessing: Allowed under 755 ILCS 6.
• Witness information sheet. One block per Illinois witness (2 required, plus a spare).
• Original-will storage and location record. Where the original is and who has copies. Handwritten wills in Illinois: Not recognized, per Nolo's Illinois page.
• Illinois will signing tracker (Excel). Steps, ID, copies and review dates. Remote witnessing in Illinois: Allowed under 755 ILCS 6. Witnesses confirm the signer's identity, the will names Illinois as its place of execution, and the witnesses are in the United States. Electronic wills: Authorized. An electronic will is signed by the testator and attested by two or more credible witnesses.