24 Oct Our will is 11 years old. Is it still good?

Q. My wife and I are both over 70 years old. We made a will 11 years ago. Is it valid until we die or how many years is it good?
— Getting older

A. Great question.

Making sure your will is current is essential.

If your will was valid when it was executed, then, as long as it has not been revoked or superseded, it remains valid, said Tom Szieber, a trusts and estates attorney with Aziz & Associates in Clifton and Summit.

A will does not have “expiration date,” so to speak, he said.

“To be valid, a will must be executed by a testator of at least 18 years old who is of sound mind with the intent of executing a will,” he said. “The testator must understand that they are signing a will, the identity of the beneficiaries, and the property/assets they own.”

The testator’s signing of the will should be free of constraint, duress, or undue influence, he said.

Szieber said the will should also be signed in front of two witnesses.

“If it is also notarized, the will will be considered `self-proving,’ which allows for a more streamlined probate process,” he said.

Keep in mind that over the years, we’ve heard some readers say some financial institutions have shown concern over wills that are more than 10 years old. So we’re not saying you need a new one, but you may want to talk to the banks you do business with — and check your beneficiary designations while you’re at it — to make sure an older will won’t raise a red flag.

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This story was originally published in October 2025.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.