﻿{"id":3220,"date":"2026-01-08T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalwills.ca\/blog\/?p=3220"},"modified":"2026-04-03T02:55:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:55:33","slug":"modern-wills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/2026\/01\/08\/modern-wills\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Modern Wills: Digital, Electronic, and Online Wills in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-size:14px;color:#555;\">The original publication date for this document was 11 February 2022 and the last update occurred on 11 January 2026.<\/p>\n<section style=\"background:#f0f7fb;border-left:4px solid #2980b9;padding:20px 24px;margin-bottom:32px;border-radius:4px;\">\n<strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> In South Africa, &#8220;online Wills&#8221; are drafted digitally but must be printed, signed, and witnessed to be valid. Purely electronic or digital Wills (stored only online) are not yet legally valid. The Wills Act 7 of 1953 requires a physical document with wet ink signatures. Modern online services like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\">LegalWills.co.za<\/a> combine digital convenience with legal compliance.<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<article><main><\/p>\n<p>TL;DR: South African law requires people who draft online Wills to print their documents before they can sign them in front of witnesses for legal recognition. Purely electronic or digital Wills (stored only online) are not yet legally valid. The Wills Act 7 of 1953 requires a physical document with wet ink signatures. LegalWills.co.za operates as a modern online service which merges digital access with proper legal systems.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"461\" data-attachment-id=\"3228\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/2026\/01\/08\/modern-wills\/last-will-and-testament-inscription-on-blue-keyboard-key\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/177185824_s.jpg?fit=819%2C585&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"819,585\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Last Will and Testament Written on Blue Key of Metallic Keyboard. Finger pressing key.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Last Will and Testament - Inscription on Blue Keyboard Key.&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Last Will and Testament &amp;#8211; Inscription on Blue Keyboard Key.\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Last Will and Testament Written on Blue Key of Metallic Keyboard. Finger pressing key.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/177185824_s.jpg?fit=646%2C461&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/177185824_s.jpg?resize=646%2C461&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Modern Wills\" class=\"wp-image-3228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/177185824_s.jpg?w=819&amp;ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/177185824_s.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/177185824_s.jpg?resize=768%2C549&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/177185824_s.jpg?resize=770%2C550&amp;ssl=1 770w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>What Is the Difference Between Digital, Electronic, and Online Wills?<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:20px 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Term<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Definition<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Valid in SA?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Online Will<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Drafted online, printed, signed, witnessed<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Electronic Will<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Created and stored electronically only<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">No (not yet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Digital Will<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">General term for technology-assisted Wills<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Depends on format<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"485\" data-attachment-id=\"2726\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/2025\/11\/06\/executor-help\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?fit=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,900\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Writing your Will online.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?fit=646%2C485&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?resize=646%2C485&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?resize=770%2C578&amp;ssl=1 770w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/mockup-of-a-young-guy-using-his-ipad-pro-while-having-breakfast-a14130.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Are Electronic Wills Legal in South Africa?<\/h2>\n<p>People who create wills today use digital methods to fulfill the requirements which the Wills Act 7 of 1953 establishes. The digital process of document creation requires the final version to exist as a physical document which must receive signatures and witness marks for legal recognition in South Africa.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"506\" data-attachment-id=\"3231\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/2026\/01\/08\/modern-wills\/digital-assets-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-assets.jpeg?fit=820%2C642&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"820,642\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Digital-assets\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-assets.jpeg?fit=646%2C506&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-assets.jpeg?resize=646%2C506&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-assets.jpeg?w=820&amp;ssl=1 820w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-assets.jpeg?resize=300%2C235&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-assets.jpeg?resize=768%2C601&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-assets.jpeg?resize=770%2C603&amp;ssl=1 770w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>What Are the Advantages of Online Will Services?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Term<\/li>\n<li>Definition<\/li>\n<li>Valid in SA?<\/li>\n<li>Online Will<\/li>\n<li>Drafted online, printed, signed, witnessed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"333\" height=\"500\" data-attachment-id=\"3232\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/2026\/01\/08\/modern-wills\/digital-executor\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-Executor.jpg?fit=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"333,500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Digital-Executor\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-Executor.jpg?fit=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-Executor.jpg?resize=333%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-Executor.jpg?w=333&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Digital-Executor.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Can I make a Will on my phone?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<h3>Will electronic Wills become legal in South Africa?<\/h3>\n<p>Electronic Will<\/p>\n<p><\/main><\/article>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Article\",\"headline\":\"Digital and Online Wills in South Africa: What's Legal?\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Tim Hewson\"},\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"LegalWills.co.za\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-02-11\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-11\"}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The original publication date for this document was 11 February 2022 and the last update occurred on 11 January 2026. TL;DR: In South Africa, &#8220;online Wills&#8221; are drafted digitally but must be printed, signed, and witnessed to be valid. Purely electronic or digital Wills (stored only online) are not yet legally valid. The Wills Act [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":true},"categories":[7],"tags":[40,12,55,41,15],"class_list":["post-3220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-wills","tag-digital-assets-2","tag-estate-planning","tag-funeral-wishes-2","tag-lifelocker","tag-wills"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>A Guide to Modern Wills: Digital, Electronic, and Online Wills in South Africa - The S.A. LegalWills Blog<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The last 20 years has seen the emergence of new modern Wills - the Online Will, Digital Will and electronic Will. We explain the difference.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3220\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Guide to Modern Wills: Digital, Electronic, and Online Wills in South Africa - The S.A. LegalWills Blog\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The last 20 years has seen the emergence of new modern Wills - the Online Will, Digital Will and electronic Will. We explain the difference.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.legalwills.co.za\/blog\/2026\/01\/08\/modern-wills\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The S.A. 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