What Happens If a Will Is Signed Incorrectly?

A will can say all the right things and still fail, because the way it's signed matters as much as what it says.

Quick answer: If a will isn't signed correctly, a probate court can refuse to accept it, and the estate may then be distributed as if there were no will at all. It doesn't always take a family member challenging it: the court checks that the will was properly signed and witnessed when it's submitted. A dozen "harmless error" states can still accept a flawed will if there's clear and convincing proof it was meant to be the will, but most states require strict compliance.