Holographic Will in Texas
Texas recognizes holographic wills under Estates Code § 251.052: a will written wholly in the testator's handwriting and signed by the testator is valid without witnesses. Unlike California, ANY non-handwritten operative text is fatal — the instrument must be entirely handwritten.
Last reviewed against current law: 2026-07-04
How Texas law treats holographic will
Texas Estates Code § 251.052 exempts a will "written wholly in the testator's handwriting" from the attestation requirement of § 251.051. The whole document — not just the material provisions — must be handwritten and signed.
Texas adds a useful feature: under § 251.107, a holographic will can be made self-proved during the testator's lifetime by an attached affidavit, sparing the estate from producing handwriting witnesses at probate. Without it, probate requires two witnesses to the testator's handwriting.
Texas also allows witnessed wills to be signed by testators as young as 14 if married or in the military (§ 251.001) — an unusual capacity rule that applies equally to holographic instruments.
Primary sources
Frequently asked questions — Texas
Can a Texas holographic will be partly typed?▾
No. Texas requires the will to be written wholly in the testator's handwriting. A typed or fill-in-the-blank form with handwritten additions does not qualify as a holographic will in Texas.
Can a Texas holographic will be self-proved?▾
Yes — uniquely, Texas Estates Code § 251.107 lets a testator attach a self-proving affidavit to a holographic will during life, so probate needs no handwriting witnesses later.
Is a holographic will as good as a witnessed will in Texas?▾
It is equally valid but practically weaker: handwriting must be proven at probate absent a self-proving affidavit, ambiguity is more common, and contests are easier. A witnessed will with independent-administration language remains the stronger instrument.