Video: How old do you need to be to make a will?

How old do you need to be to make a will? The answer may surprise you! Atlanta, Georgia estate planning and probate attorney Sarah Siedentopf shares the answer in Siedentopf Law’s latest video. #estateplannng #probate #will #Atlanta #Georgia

Hi, I’m estate planning and probate attorney Sarah Siedentopf. How old do you need to be to make a will? That answer varies by state. But I’m in Georgia, so… In Georgia, You only have to be 14 to make a will. I know that normally we expect 18 because that’s such a standard age for so many things, but if you are 14 years old, you can make a will in Georgia and, when it comes to witnessing a will, you have to be 14 years old to witness a will. Which I think that most of us would agree that a 14-year-old would not make that great of a witness. We would prefer someone over the age of 18 and you should keep in mind that if you have a Georgia will that was perhaps witnessed by someone who is 14, 15, 16, and you take that will to a different state that requires a higher age that will won’t be valid in that state. So, you have to be 14 to make a will in Georgia, and certainly I recommend having a will. Most fourteen-year-olds probably don’t need one, but you can do it very very early here in Georgia. Thanks.