No!  In Massachusetts a will must be written.  This is a requirement that is specifically listed in the laws governing wills.  If you wish to leave videotaped final words to your friends and loved ones, you must also complete a written will, unless you’re okay with the state distributing your belongings according to its preset default rules.

This doesn’t mean a videotape  is useless.   Your attorney might ask that you videotape your will signing, not to serve as a video will, but documentation of the event.  There are two reasons why having this event videotaped can be helpful:

1)       It shows you were of sound mind at the time you signed your will, a requirement for it to be valid, and;

2)      It shows that you signed your will voluntarily, another requirement for it to be valid.

By videotaping the signing of your written will, you bolster its validity and make sure that your final wishes are carried out the way you expected.

*Idea for this post is courtesy of David Shulman of the South Florida Estate Planning Law Blog