Among all forms of wills, notarized wills have long been the preferred choice for high-net-worth families arranging high-end inheritance, thanks to their rigorous procedure and strong evidentiary value. Many clients ask: is there any difference in legal effect between a notarized will and a holographic will written at home? How exactly do you go about notarizing a will?

According to Article 1139 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, a notarized will is executed by the testator through a notary institution. It is important to note that, since the Civil Code came into effect, notarized wills no longer enjoy automatic priority over other forms of wills. However, this does not mean that notarized wills have lost their value. On the contrary, their advantages—procedural rigor, assurance of authenticity, and evidentiary strength—make them far more difficult to challenge in subsequent inheritance disputes.

The process of notarizing a will generally involves the following steps. First, the testator must appear in person at a notary office to file an application, submitting identification documents, proof of property ownership, proof of kinship, and other materials. Second, the notary examines the testator's capacity and confirms that the will reflects the testator's true intentions and is made voluntarily. Third, the notary institution reviews the content of the will and issues a notarial deed. Throughout the process, the testator must be mentally competent and able to express their wishes clearly. It should be noted that will notarization cannot be handled by an agent— the testator must be present in person.

In the winning inheritance cases our firm has handled, we have observed that many holographic wills are ruled invalid in litigation due to formal defects—such as missing dates, illegible signatures, or unauthorized alterations. Notarized wills, by contrast, are backed by notarial procedures and case records, making them significantly less likely to be overturned. Of course, notarized wills are not infallible: if the testator lacked full civil capacity at the time of execution, or was subject to fraud or duress, the will may still be ruled invalid even if it was notarized. In summary, will notarization is a highly reliable option in high-end inheritance planning. Before proceeding, however, you should ensure your own mental capacity is clear and your property ownership is well-established. We recommend consulting an experienced inheritance lawyer in advance, so that you can prepare the necessary documents and plan the content properly under professional guidance before going to the notary office.