The will execution ceremony is the procedure by which a testator makes known how they want their property to be handled after their death through their will. The execution ceremony has formal requirements such as the signature, attestation and writing...
trusts and estates
(Wex page)
Will substitutes are functionally indistinguishable from a will because the death beneficiary receives assets at the death of the donor and will substitutes convey no lifetime benefits (personal enjoyment) to the death beneficiary during the lifetime...
(Wex page)
Wills must be attested (witnessed) in order to be valid. The witness must acknowledge the will. Most states require more than one witness.
(Wex page)
Wills must be signed in order to be valid. Some states require that the signature appear at the end of the document, while other states allow the signature to appear anywhere on the document.
(Wex page)
Wills must be in writing in order to be valid, but not necessarily paper. The writing requirement is met long as the will is written in some more or less permanent medium.