Can French wills be typed as opposed to handwritten?
The rules depends on who is writing it
There are strict rules in France around how a will is written, particularly about it being done so by hand
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Reader Question: My wife is beginning to suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and struggles to write. She wants to complete her will but now she cannot write, is there provision for her to type it instead?
The most common type of will in France is a handwritten will, known as a testament olographe.
This can be done without a notaire, though you can submit it to a notaire for them to register it with the national registry of wills (which is recommended to ensure it is found after the person’s death).
However, such a will is only valid if it is completely handwritten, dated and signed solely by the person whose assets it covers.
These are the essential conditions, as laid down in article 969 of the Code civil.
This excludes any help writing the will, as well as the use of additional technology such as typewriters, tablets, or computers.
Is there an alternative?
Extenuating circumstances such as a disability or sickness do not grant you the ability to type up a testament olographe instead of writing it by hand, and nobody can write it on your behalf.
However, if you cannot write your will out, you can go to a notaire and instead obtain a testament authentique.
This sees a person dictate what they want their will to contain to a notaire, who writes it out for them (which can be typed in this case).
Once complete, the notaire reads the will back out loud to confirm that it is correct.
The writing of the will must be done in the presence of two witnesses who cannot be parents or otherwise beneficiaries of the will.
Alternatively, it can be done in the presence of another notaire, but not clerks of the notaire you are dictating to.
Once the will has been written, you and your witnesses must sign it.
A standard cost for a notaire to write up a testament authentique is €136, inclusive of tax.
This does not include any extra costs for advice with regard to the contents of the will.
Read more: How to make a French will: Essential rules and nine pitfalls to avoid
