Can I write my will myself, by hand, without a notary?
Yes — a holographic will is valid without a notary, but on three strict conditions. Article 970 of the Civil Code requires it to be entirely written, dated and signed in the testator's own hand; it is subject to no other form. The price of this simplicity is its strictness: a will typed on a computer, machine-written or even partly printed is void, as is one whose date is missing. Another decisive limit: you cannot leave everything to whomever you wish if you have children, because they are reserved heirs — the will freely disposes only of the disposable portion. To stop it being lost or contested, you can register it in the Central Register of Wills kept by the Registration authority, for EUR 10 (electronic) or 20 (paper). The myth: "a will is only valid at a notary's" — false; the holographic will is perfectly valid, provided the form is respected to the letter.
📋 The rules
- Article 970 of the Civil Code: a holographic will is valid only if it is entirely written, dated and signed in the testator's own hand.
- No notary required: no other form is imposed; but a text that is typed, printed or machine-written — even signed — is void.
- The date is essential: the absence of a date in the testator's hand can render the document void.
- Reserved inheritance: children are reserved heirs; they cannot be disinherited, and the will disposes only of the disposable portion.
- Central register: registration in the Central Register of Wills (Registration authority) costs EUR 10 electronically, 20 on paper, and stays secret during your lifetime.
🔓 Exceptions
- Other forms of will: the notarial will (drawn up by a notary) and the mystic will remain valid alternatives, safer against loss and challenge.
- Deposit with a notary: a holographic will deposited with a notary must be registered by them in the central register, which guarantees it will be found.
- No reserved heirs: where there are no descendants, the freedom to bequeath is far wider, subject to any rights of the surviving spouse.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Here the "penalty" strikes your wishes, not your wallet. A holographic will that does not respect the form — typed on a computer, undated, unsigned, or not in the testator's hand — is void: the estate is then settled as if it did not exist, along the legal order of heirs, the exact opposite of what you wanted. A will written at home and not registered risks being lost, forgotten or hidden by an unhappy relative, with no one able to find it. If it encroaches on the children's reserved share, they can bring an action for reduction to bring the legacies back to the disposable portion. Finally, ambiguous wording fuels family conflict and lawsuits between heirs. The safe course: write clearly by hand, date it, sign it, and register the document so that it is found and respected.
📎 Official sources
- Guichet.lu · settling an estate on the basis of a will (State portal) →
- Legilux · Civil Code, article 970 and reserved inheritance (official journal) →
- Guichet.lu · searching for and registering a will (Central Register of Wills) →
❓ Frequently asked
Is a handwritten will really valid without a notary?
Yes, a holographic will is perfectly valid without a notary, provided it is entirely written, dated and signed in the testator's own hand. It is the simplest and cheapest form, but also the most fragile if any one of these three conditions is missing.
Can I type my will on a computer and then sign it?
No, a holographic will typed on a computer or machine-written is void, even dated and signed in your hand. Article 970 of the Civil Code requires the whole text to be handwritten; a printed document can only be valid as a notarial will drawn up by a notary.
Can I disinherit my children by will?
No, children are reserved heirs and are entitled to a minimum share of the estate that a will cannot take from them. You can freely dispose only of the disposable portion, and a legacy that exceeds that share can be reduced at the children's request.
Is the date on the will really compulsory?
Yes, the date in the testator's own hand is one of the conditions of validity, and its absence can render the document void. It notably serves to establish which will prevails where there are successive documents and to check the testator's capacity at the time of writing.
How do I stop my will being lost or contested?
You can register it in the Central Register of Wills kept by the Registration authority, for EUR 10 electronically or 20 on paper. Depositing it with a notary, who enters it in the register, likewise guarantees that it will be found and respected after your death.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “holographic will luxembourg valid”
- “write will without notary luxembourg”
- “article 970 civil code will luxembourg”
- “reserved inheritance children luxembourg”
- “register will central register luxembourg”
- “handwritten will conditions luxembourg”