Are electronic wills valid?

Are electronic wills or e-wills valid? Well, the short answer is that in California they are not. In order for a will to be valid in California it must be a physical writing. Of course, you can type it up electronically on your computer or phone, but it must be printed out. But what about the signatures? Can you electronically sign your will and then print it out? Unfortunately, California does not allow that either. That’s because the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, which allows electronic signatures to be used on many legal documents, specifically does not allow wills to be signed electronically. So, for now, you must physically print and use a “wet signature” to make a signature. But that law is always changing, and there are other requirements that must be met in order for a will to be valid, so contact an experienced estate planner to ensure that your will is valid and that your family and legacy are protected.