Law4u - Made in India

What is a holographic will?

30-Sep-2025
Wills & Trusts

Answer By law4u team

A holographic will is a type of will that is handwritten and signed entirely by the person making the will (the testator), without the involvement of witnesses or typed documents. It expresses the testator’s intentions about the distribution of their property after death in their own handwriting. In Indian law, while traditional wills usually require certain formalities like witnesses, some newer laws or personal laws might recognize holographic wills as valid if certain conditions are met, such as clear handwritten expression and signature by the testator. The key features of a holographic will are: Entirely written by the testator in their own handwriting. Signed by the testator. Does not necessarily require witnesses (depending on jurisdiction or applicable law). Can be simpler to create but may face challenges in proving authenticity or intent.

Answer By Anik

Dear Client, Wills under Indian law are governed by the Indian Succession Act, 1925. A holographic will is actually a will that is entirely handwritten. The testator (the person whose will it is) writes it himself/herself and this kind of will also does not require any witnesses unlike a normal will which needs to be signed by at least two witnesses. A holographic will is recognized under the Indian Succession Act, 1925, however, there are some conditions to it – 1. It must be that the entire content of the will is in the testator’s handwriting so it can be proved that he wrote it himself/herself. 2. The will must show that the testator’s intent regarding any property distribution is properly mentioned and clarified. 3. Holographic wills do not mandatorily require witnesses but having their signatures may help avoid any disputes later on. 4. Such a will can be challenged in the court of law on the basis of authenticity or capacity issues. I hope this answer helps. For any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you.

Wills & Trusts Verified Advocates

Get expert legal advice instantly.

Advocate R D Sonar

Advocate R D Sonar

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Criminal, Court Marriage, Divorce, Documentation, Domestic Violence, Family, Insurance, Labour & Service, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, Succession Certificate, Revenue, Wills Trusts

Get Advice
Advocate Sudheesh K

Advocate Sudheesh K

Family, Divorce, Anticipatory Bail, Criminal, Motor Accident, Cheque Bounce, Recovery, Child Custody, Cyber Crime, Domestic Violence, High Court, Breach of Contract, Arbitration, Civil, Consumer Court, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Patent, Property, R.T.I, Revenue, Wills Trusts, Trademark & Copyright, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Corporate, Court Marriage, Customs & Central Excise, Documentation, GST, Immigration, Insurance, International Law, Media and Entertainment, Medical Negligence, Muslim Law, RERA, Tax, Succession Certificate, Startup

Get Advice
Advocate Imran Khan

Advocate Imran Khan

Criminal, Anticipatory Bail, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Court Marriage, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Landlord & Tenant, Media and Entertainment, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, Wills Trusts

Get Advice
Advocate Anant Shankar Sharma

Advocate Anant Shankar Sharma

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Armed Forces Tribunal, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Corporate, Court Marriage, Customs & Central Excise, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, GST, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Immigration, Insurance, International Law, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Media and Entertainment, Medical Negligence, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, NCLT, Patent, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, RERA, Startup, Succession Certificate, Supreme Court, Tax, Trademark & Copyright, Wills Trusts, Revenue

Get Advice
Advocate Dr Rajmohamed N Badiger

Advocate Dr Rajmohamed N Badiger

Anticipatory Bail, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Corporate, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, GST, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Insurance, Landlord & Tenant, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, Patent, Property, Recovery, RERA, Succession Certificate, Tax, Trademark & Copyright, Wills Trusts, Revenue

Get Advice
Advocate Shivanand Soloni

Advocate Shivanand Soloni

Civil, Criminal, Cheque Bounce, Property, Recovery, Family, Insurance, Court Marriage, Revenue, Wills Trusts

Get Advice
Advocate Darshan Panchal

Advocate Darshan Panchal

Property, Recovery, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, High Court, Customs & Central Excise, GST, Immigration, International Law, Family, Divorce, Cyber Crime, Documentation, Domestic Violence, Consumer Court, Arbitration, Armed Forces Tribunal, Anticipatory Bail, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Cheque Bounce, Breach of Contract, Corporate, Child Custody, Civil, Court Marriage, Criminal, Insurance, Medical Negligence, Media and Entertainment, NCLT, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, R.T.I, Startup, RERA, Trademark & Copyright, Supreme Court, Wills Trusts, Revenue, Succession Certificate, Patent, Tax

Get Advice
Advocate Karthik Raja

Advocate Karthik Raja

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Armed Forces Tribunal, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Corporate, Court Marriage, Criminal, Customs & Central Excise, Divorce, GST, High Court, Documentation, Cyber Crime, Family, Domestic Violence, Immigration, Insurance, International Law, Landlord & Tenant, Labour & Service, Media and Entertainment, Medical Negligence, Muslim Law, Motor Accident, Patent, Property, RERA, R.T.I, Recovery, Supreme Court, Trademark & Copyright, Wills Trusts, Revenue, Tax, Startup, NCLT, Succession Certificate

Get Advice
Advocate Puneeth Kumara N R

Advocate Puneeth Kumara N R

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Armed Forces Tribunal, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Corporate, Court Marriage, Customs & Central Excise, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, GST, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Immigration, Insurance, International Law, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Media and Entertainment, Medical Negligence, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, NCLT, Patent, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, RERA, Startup, Succession Certificate, Supreme Court, Tax, Trademark & Copyright, Wills Trusts, Revenue

Get Advice
Advocate Pradeep Verma

Advocate Pradeep Verma

Civil, Documentation, Family, Wills Trusts, Revenue

Get Advice

Wills & Trusts Related Questions

Discover clear and detailed answers to common questions about Breach of Contract. Learn about procedures and more in straightforward language.