An online will form can make it easier to begin thinking about your wishes. Before relying on the completed document, however, it is worth checking whether it fits Florida law, your family, and the way your property will actually pass.
Check how the document was signed
For an ordinary written Florida will, the person making it must sign at the end, or another person must sign the will-maker’s name there in the will-maker’s presence and at the will-maker’s direction. The signing or acknowledgment must occur before at least two attesting witnesses. The witnesses must sign in the presence of the will-maker and each other.
A handwritten will can be valid if the applicable formalities are satisfied. Handwriting alone does not make it invalid, and an unwitnessed handwritten document does not meet Florida’s ordinary execution requirements. Electronic wills have separate statutory provisions.
Notarization does not replace the required witnesses. A self-proving affidavit is a separate step that can simplify proof of the will during probate.
Read the instructions as a whole
Check the beneficiaries’ names, alternate gifts, and the provision disposing of the remainder of the probate estate. Consider what happens if a beneficiary dies before you, if a child is still a minor, or if someone needs ongoing support.
A missing asset list does not necessarily cause intestacy if a valid residuary clause disposes of the property. Conversely, unclear language or an incomplete disposition can create uncertainty. The actual document needs to be read before drawing conclusions.
Account for Florida-specific rights
Homestead restrictions, spousal rights, fiduciary qualifications, and other state rules may affect whether the document accomplishes your wishes. A form designed around a different state’s assumptions may not address those issues adequately.
A will also generally does not override valid beneficiary designations or survivorship ownership. Review account forms and deeds alongside the document.
Consider the decisions a will does not address
A financial power of attorney and health care documents address decisions during life. A trust may be useful for particular management or inheritance goals. The appropriate combination depends on your circumstances.
Using a form does not automatically create a large tax bill, and working with a lawyer cannot guarantee that no dispute will occur. Individual advice can identify issues that a standard questionnaire may not explore and help coordinate the plan’s parts.
I can review your goals and explain the options for preparing or updating your documents. Read more about finding the right fit for a Florida will, or contact Verras Law to arrange a consultation.
Sources: Florida will execution requirements; Self-proving wills; Electronic will execution; Florida constitutional homestead.
Updated October 26, 2026.