What type of will is a handwritten, signed, but unwitnessed document?

A handwritten, signed, but unwitnessed document is classified as a holographic will. This type of will is legally recognized in many jurisdictions, provided it is written in the testator's own handwriting and signed by them. The defining characteristics of a holographic will are its lack of formalities such as witnesses, which is typically required in more conventional will formats. Because it is created entirely by the testator without the assistance of legal professionals at the time of its creation, it reflects the individual's personal intentions regarding the distribution of their estate after their death.

While codicils are amendments to existing wills and testamentary wills are the formal, conventional wills that often require witnesses, and statutory wills adhere to specific legal formats laid out by state law, these do not apply to a handwritten and unwitnessed document. Thus, the identification of this type of will as a holographic will emphasizes its informal yet valid nature in the estate planning context.