Closed will
For when what you decided is nobody else’s business until you are gone.
What it is
You write and sign your instructions, place them in a sealed envelope and hand it to the notary before witnesses. Nobody else reads the contents: the notary attests to receiving the envelope, not to what it says inside.
How it is granted
The document has to carry your signature. The envelope is sealed in front of the witnesses and the notary draws up the record of delivery. It stays in custody until death.
When it fits
When the distribution could cause conflict and you would rather it stay unknown while you live. In exchange, opening it is a court matter: a judge verifies the formalities before the will takes effect, and that adds time to the estate.
Read the full guide: what it is and when it makes sense →
The statutory fee is the same as the open will. What changes is the process afterwards.