Concerned about losing your will, or your family struggling to find it when it matters most?
Electronic Wills & Secure Will Storage in North Carolina
Secure electronic storage
Attorney-created and compliant records
Confidence your wishes are preserved
Because peace of mind shouldn’t depend on where a document is kept.
A Modern Way to Protect Your Final Wishes
You’ve taken the time to create a will. But what happens if it’s lost, misplaced, or damaged?
North Carolina now allows a new solution:
Your will can be securely stored as an electronic record, created at your direction by a licensed attorney. This reliable way to preserve your wishes still complies with the state’s legal requirements.
An electronically stored will is not a shortcut or a casual digital document. It begins with a properly executed written will and adds a layer of protection by creating a verified electronic copy that can later be used in the probate process.
If you’ve ever worried about safekeeping, or about your family scrambling to locate documents during a difficult time, this option may be worth considering.
Start protecting your will today before uncertainty has a chance to take over.
What Is an Electronically Stored Will?
An electronically stored will is a digital record of your properly signed written will, created by a North Carolina attorney at your direction.
This process includes:
- Creating an electronic version of your signed will
- Adding a sworn attorney affidavit confirming the record is complete and accurate
- Ensuring the record can later be converted into a certified paper copy for probate
This means your will isn’t just sitting in a drawer or safe.
It now has a verified, retrievable backup that can be used when your family needs it.
Let’s make sure your wishes can be found, followed, and honored when it matters most.
Show Them You Care
One client came to our firm as a young man early in his career. He was married and his wife had recently given birth to their second child. The client wanted to ensure that his small children and wife would be okay if something happened to him.
We helped the couple understand their options and prepare a will for their peace of mind. Even though they were young, they understood the importance of estate planning for the future safety and security of their growing family.
Ten years later, his wife returned to our office and informed us that her husband had passed away unexpectedly. We assisted her by outlining the next steps for handling his affairs and, because of his planning, his wife and their children continued to stay in their home.
Despite the immense grief they felt, the overall changes to their individual lives were as limited as possible. You, too, can secure a stable future for your loved ones by making your will today.
Not Quite “Digital-Only”
It’s important to understand what this is, and what it isn’t.
North Carolina does not currently allow wills that are created and signed entirely online.
Instead, your will must still be properly executed as a written, witnessed document under state law. The electronic component comes afterward, adding security and flexibility without replacing those legal safeguards.
Take one simple step now to make things easier for your family later.
Why Consider Electronic Will Storage?
Life happens. Papers get lost.
Fires, floods, and simple misplacement can create real problems for families trying to carry out your wishes.
With an electronically stored will:
- Your document has a secure, attorney-verified backup
- The risk of a “lost will” dispute is reduced
- Your family has a clearer path forward during probate
- You gain confidence that your plan can be located and used
For many families, this is less about convenience and more about certainty.
Don’t leave your will’s future up to chance. Put a system in place that works.
How It Works for Your Family
When the time comes, your electronically stored will can be converted into a certified paper copy by a North Carolina attorney.
That certified copy can then be presented to the court for probate, following a process similar to traditional wills.
In many cases, this approach can simplify issues that arise when original documents are missing or unavailable, something that has historically created stress, delay, and added expense.
Make your plan easier to carry out, no matter what happens to the original document.
Latest News
Electronic Wills In North Carolina: How New 2026 Law Changes Will Storage And Probate
You work hard to put your affairs in order, so the idea of your will getting lost or damaged can feel unsettling. With electronic wills in North Carolina now recognized in a specific way under a new 2026 law, you have another option to help keep your written will safe and easier to use when your family needs it. Under this law, your will still starts as a properly signed and witnessed paper...
Testimonial
Built for Real Life
Estate planning is not just about legal documents. It’s about real people, real families, and real moments when clarity matters most.
We’ve seen how difficult it can be when loved ones are left searching for answers while also grieving. Something as simple as knowing where a will is—and being able to prove it—can make a meaningful difference.
Electronic storage is one more way to reduce uncertainty and give your family a steadier path forward.
Ready to add an extra layer of protection to your will?
Let’s talk.
We Believe in Keeping Things Simple and Secure
At Hopler, Hanna & Associates, PLLC, we help individuals and families take practical steps to protect what matters most. If electronic will storage makes sense for your situation, we will:
- Prepare or review your written will
- Create a compliant electronic record under North Carolina law
- Walk you through the legal implications
- Help you understand how your plan will work in the future
Our goal is to make the process clear, straightforward, and aligned with your wishes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electronic Wills in North Carolina
Can I create an electronically stored will on my own?
No. North Carolina law requires that the electronic record be created by an attorney. This ensures the process meets legal standards and can be relied upon later in probate.
Work with a team that will make sure everything is done properly.
Is an electronically stored will the same as an online or digital will?
No. North Carolina does not currently allow wills to be created and signed entirely online. An electronically stored will begins as a properly executed written will.
The electronic version is a verified copy created by an attorney for storage and future use.
Make sure your will is created and stored the right way from the start.
How is an electronically stored will created?
It must be created at your direction by a licensed North Carolina attorney.
The attorney prepares an electronic record of your signed will and attaches a sworn statement confirming that the copy is complete and accurate and that you authorized its creation.
Take the first step toward securing your will with a process you can rely on.
What happens if my original paper will is lost?
If your will has been properly stored as an electronic record, an attorney can create a certified paper copy from that record. That certified copy can then be presented to the court for probate.
Give your family a clear path forward, even if the original document cannot be found.
Can I still revoke my will if it is stored electronically?
Yes, but not by simply destroying the original paper document.
Once your will is stored electronically under North Carolina law, you generally cannot revoke it by physically destroying the original document. Tearing it up or discarding it will not have the same legal effect as it would with a traditional will.
You can still update or revoke your will through proper legal steps, but it must be done intentionally and correctly.
We make sure you fully understand this before moving forward, so there are no surprises later.
Make sure you understand your options before making your will permanent.
Does this apply to wills I already have?
Yes. Existing wills can be stored electronically, as long as the process is completed during your lifetime and at your direction with a North Carolina attorney.
Turn your existing will into something more secure and dependable.
Is an electronically stored will harder to probate?
In many cases, it follows a process similar to a traditional will. The key difference is that a certified paper copy is created from the electronic record and submitted to the court.
Choose a process designed to make things easier when your family needs it most.
Why would I choose electronic storage instead of just keeping a paper will?
Electronic storage adds a layer of security. It helps protect against loss, damage, or uncertainty about where the original document is located, issues that can create delays and stress for your family.
Add an extra layer of protection to your estate plan today.
Is my information secure?
Security depends on how and where the electronic record is maintained. When handled through an attorney, the process is designed to preserve the integrity and reliability of the document while keeping it accessible when needed.
Store your will with a process built for both security and accessibility.
Get Started Today
You don’t need a complicated estate to benefit from thoughtful planning.
And you don’t need to leave things to chance.
With the right approach, you can create a plan that is not only legally sound but also easier for your family to carry out when the time comes.
What would it mean to know your wishes are protected, no matter what happens to the original document?
At Hopler, Hanna & Associates, PLLC we’ve been helping families plan for the future for over 15 years. Let’s talk about whether an electronically stored will is right for you.