A holographic will — one that is handwritten and signed by the testator — does not need to be self-proving. Although a holographic will could theoretically include a self-proving affidavit, this is uncommon because holographic wills typically are created without witnesses.
In California, a holographic will is valid if it is signed by the testator and the material terms are in the testator’s handwriting, even without witnesses.
Because self-proving affidavits rely on witness declarations about the signing, holographic wills usually do not function as self-proving documents in the same way formally witnessed wills do.
