What Is a Self Proving Affidavit for a Florida Will?

Florida does not require a will to be notarized to be valid. The testator must sign at the end, or another person may sign the testator's name at the end in the testator's presence and at the testator's direction, and at least two attesting witnesses must sign in the presence of the testator and of each other. Those execution rules are separate from self proof.

Self proof is an optional step that can be completed when the will is signed or on a later date. The testator acknowledges the will, and the witnesses swear to the facts of signing, before an officer authorized to administer oaths. The officer's certificate is attached to or follows the will in substantially the form the statute provides, and the acknowledgment may be taken by physical presence or by online notarization when the statutory options are used.

A will or codicil that was made self proved under former Florida law, or that was executed in another state and made self proved under that state's law, is treated as self proved in Florida. Self proof is often what makes probate smoother when witnesses later cannot be located, a topic covered in what happens at probate if the witnesses to a Florida will cannot be found. Notarization rules for wills are summarized in whether notarization is required for a will in Florida.