Indiana § 29-1-5-3.1 - Self-proving clause

§ 29-1-5-3.1. Self-proving clause

Sec. 3.1. (a) This section applies to a will executed before, on, or after July 1, 2003. When a will is executed, the will may be:

(1) attested; and

(2) made self-proving;

by incorporating into or attaching to the will a self-proving clause that meets the requirements of subsection (c) or (d). If the testator and witnesses sign a self-proving clause that meets the requirements of subsection (c) or (d) at the time the will is executed, no other signatures of the testator and witnesses are required for the will to be validly executed and self-proved.

(b) If a will is executed by the signatures of the testator and witnesses on an attestation clause under section 3(b) of this chapter, the will may be made self-proving at a later date by attaching to the will a self-proving clause signed by the testator and witnesses that meets the requirements of subsection (c) or (d).

(c) A self-proving clause must contain the acknowledgment of the will by the testator and the statements of the witnesses, each made under the laws of Indiana and evidenced by the signatures of the testator and witnesses (which may be made under the penalties for perjury) attached or annexed to the will in form and content substantially as follows:

We, the undersigned testator and the undersigned witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument declare:

(1) that the testator executed the instrument as the testator's will;

(2) that, in the presence of both witnesses, the testator signed or acknowledged the signature already made or directed another to sign for the testator in the testator's presence;

(3) that the testator executed the will as a free and voluntary act for the purposes expressed in it;

(4) that each of the witnesses, in the presence of the testator and of each other, signed the will as a witness;

(5) that the testator was of sound mind when the will was executed; and

(6) that to the best knowledge of each of the witnesses the testator was, at the time the will was executed, at least eighteen (18) years of age or was a member of the armed forces or of the merchant marine of the United States or its allies.

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Testator

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Date

Witness

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Witness

(d) A will is attested and self-proved if the will includes or has attached a clause signed by the testator and the witnesses that indicates in substance that:

(1) the testator signified that the instrument is the testator's will;

(2) in the presence of at least two (2) witnesses, the testator signed the instrument or acknowledged the testator's signature already made or directed another to sign for the testator in the testator's presence;

(3) the testator executed the instrument freely and voluntarily for the purposes expressed in it;

(4) each of the witnesses, in the testator's presence and in the presence of all other witnesses, is executing the instrument as a witness;

(5) the testator was of sound mind when the will was executed; and

(6) the testator is, to the best of the knowledge of each of the witnesses, either:

(A) at least eighteen (18) years of age; or

(B) a member of the armed forces or the merchant marine of the United States or its allies.

(e) If the testator and the attesting witnesses executed the will in two (2) or more counterparts on paper under section 3(c) of this chapter, the self-proving clause, if applicable, for the will must substantially be in the following form:

"We, the undersigned testator and undersigned witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument, declare the following:

(1) That the undersigned testator and witnesses interacted with each other in real time through the use of technology, and each witness was able to observe the testator and other witnesses throughout the signing process.

(2) That the testator executed a complete counterpart of the instrument, in a readable form on paper, as the testator's will.

(3) That, in the presence of both witnesses, the testator:

(A) signed the paper counterpart of the will;

(B) acknowledged the testator's signature already made; or

(C) directed another individual to sign the paper counterpart of the will for the testator in the testator's presence.

(4) That the testator executed the will as a free and voluntary act for the purpose expressed in the will.

(5) That each of the witnesses, in the presence of the testator and of each other, signed one (1) or more other complete paper counterparts of the will as a witness.

(6) That each paper counterpart of the will that was signed by the witness was complete, in readable form, and with content identical to the paper counterpart signed by the testator.

(7) That the testator was of sound mind when the will was executed.

(8) That, to the best knowledge of each witness, the testator was at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time the will was executed or was a member of the armed forces or of the merchant marine of the United States or its allies.".

(f) This section shall be construed in favor of effectuating the testator's intent to make a valid will.

As added by P.L.4-2003, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.185-2021, SEC.3.