Japan's revised Civil Code (民法等の一部を改正する法律) was enacted on June 17, 2026 and promulgated on June 24, 2026, making two key changes to Japan's will system: (1) abolishing the seal (hanko) requirement for holographic wills and other will types, and (2) creating a new Digital Will system (formally called Hokan Shosho Yuigon / 保管証書遺言).
Important: neither change has taken effect yet as of July 2026. Implementation dates will be set by cabinet ordinance. If you are writing a will right now, the existing rules — including the seal requirement — still apply.
Three Key Changes in the 2026 Civil Code Amendment
① Seal Requirement Abolished for Holographic Wills (effective: within 1 year of promulgation)
Under current law, a holographic will (自筆証書遺言) must be entirely handwritten, dated, signed, and sealed with a personal seal (hanko) to be valid. The amendment removes the seal requirement — a handwritten signature alone will suffice. This takes effect "on a date set by cabinet ordinance within one year of promulgation," meaning no later than June 24, 2027.
No. Notarized wills are drafted by a notary public and are unaffected by this amendment. They remain the gold standard for will validity and still involve a seal. The seal abolition applies only to holographic wills, secret wills, and certain emergency wills.
② Digital Will System Created — Hokan Shosho Yuigon (effective: within 3 years of promulgation)
The amendment creates a new will type letting a person draft a will on a computer or smartphone, then have a legal affairs bureau (法務局) custodian officially record and store the content after the testator orally confirms its contents. This addresses the main weaknesses of holographic wills — risk of loss, destruction, or never being discovered. The system takes effect within 3 years of promulgation, no later than June 24, 2029.
③ New Emergency Will Methods (effective: within 1 year of promulgation)
New methods are added for emergency wills (e.g., deathbed wills, maritime disaster wills), allowing a witness's oral record to be captured via audio or video recording on a smartphone.
Current vs. Post-Amendment Will Rules
| Will Type | Current Rules | After Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Holographic Will | Handwritten + dated + signed + sealed (required) | Handwritten + dated + signed (seal not required) |
| Notarized Will | Drafted by notary (no change) | No change |
| Secret Will | Sealed (required) | Seal not required |
| Digital Will (new) | (Does not exist) | Computer-created; stored by legal affairs bureau |
What Should You Do Right Now?
If you want to write a will today (before the amendment takes effect)
Use the current rules — which still require a seal on a holographic will. The four requirements remain:
- Write the entire will by hand (typed documents are invalid)
- Include the date written by hand
- Write your name by hand
- Affix your personal seal (a personal inkan or even a thumbprint is acceptable)
A common mistake is thinking "I'll wait until the seal requirement is lifted." This is risky — testamentary capacity can be affected by illness or cognitive decline, often suddenly. Writing a valid will today under current rules, and updating it later if needed (wills can be revised anytime), is far safer than waiting. The amendment simplifies the process but does not lessen the urgency of having a will in place.
For most people: consider a notarized will
Notarized wills (drafted by a notary) are not subject to format errors that can invalidate them. Even after the 2026 amendment, they remain the safest option — especially where the estate includes real property, the family situation is complex, or heir disputes are a concern.
Key Takeaways
- Civil Code amendment enacted June 17, 2026; promulgated June 24, 2026
- Seal (hanko) requirement for holographic wills abolished (effective: within 1 year, latest June 2027)
- Digital Will (Hokan Shosho Yuigon) created — computer-created will stored by the legal affairs bureau (effective: within 3 years, latest June 2029)
- As of July 2026: amendment not yet in effect — current rules (seal required) still apply
- Do not wait for the amendment — write your will now under current rules
- Notarized wills remain the safest option regardless of the amendment
For help with will drafting, estate planning, and inheritance procedures in Japan, see our Inheritance & Will services or schedule a free consultation.
⚖️ Expert Comment — Licensed Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Scrivener)
📋 Practical Impact
The most significant long-term impact will be the Digital Will system, which lowers the barrier to writing a valid will for people who find handwriting difficult or prefer computers, and substantially reduces the risk of a holographic will being lost or destroyed. The period before implementation (up to 2029) is a transition; existing wills under current rules remain fully valid.
⚠️ Common Pitfalls
After the seal requirement is lifted, informal handwritten notes may more easily be mistaken for or contested as wills, creating new disputes in inheritance proceedings over document validity. Also, a digital file on a computer does not by itself constitute a "Digital Will" — the new system requires formal submission to the legal affairs bureau, and only documents processed through that official channel qualify.
✅ Action Steps
If you have assets in Japan and no valid will: contact a specialist today. If you already have a holographic will and worry about its validity: have a professional review it. If the estate includes real property or cross-border elements (non-Japanese heirs, assets outside Japan): a notarized will is strongly recommended. See our Inheritance & Will services or book a free consultation.