How to Make a Wassiya for Free

In brief: A Wassiya costs nothing to will. You can write it yourself, use a free guided online tool, or seek help from an imam or association. In France, a holographic will must be written entirely by hand, precisely dated, and signed. A printed PDF is a will service, not a valid holographic will by itself.

Key points to remember

• The classic handwritten method costs €0 and can be legally valid in France under Article 970 of the Code civil.
• A free online tool can prevent omissions by asking about identity, debts, children, funeral wishes, and bequests.
• The one-third Islamic limit comes from hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari 2742; Sahih Muslim 1628a), not from a Qur’anic rule.
• A generic template cannot determine the French available portion or adapt itself to reserved heirs.
• A notary is optional when writing a holographic will, although depositing the document and obtaining advice may involve fees.

Option 1 — A handwritten Wassiya: the classic, completely free method

You can prepare the entire will yourself. Begin with the Basmala and Shahada, identify yourself without ambiguity, list financial and religious debts, record funeral wishes, nominate an executor and any preferred guardian, and state any bequests. Then write every word by hand, add the full date, and sign.

This method costs nothing, but it assumes that you already understand both Islamic principles and French succession constraints. Common errors include an incomplete date, a printed clause, an unidentified beneficiary, or a gift that exceeds the available portion.

Option 2 — Free online tools

A guided service helps organise the same information through straightforward questions. Wassiyatoun adapts the will to your answers and provides a downloadable document. The tool is free, but the final execution still matters: if you choose the holographic form in France, copy the complete final text by hand, date it, and sign it.

An online testament does not bypass French law. Wassiyatoun writes the complete testament from your answers; if you choose the French holographic form, you must then copy that complete text by hand, date it, and sign it.

Option 3 — Help from an imam or Islamic association

Some mosques and associations provide guidance free of charge or for a small contribution. They can explain religious questions, including debts, funeral wishes, and the one-third limit. Their support does not necessarily replace advice from a French succession professional, especially where the estate includes real property, an international element, or family conflict.

Option 4 — A notary, the paid option

A notary can advise on the hereditary reserve, the available portion, matrimonial property, and international assets, and can keep the will securely. Typical will-writing costs cited by the source corpus range from €150 to €300. This option is particularly useful for complex estates, but it is not required merely to make a holographic will.

What is genuinely free and what has a hidden cost?

Printing, registered postage, notarial advice, or FCDDV registration can create optional costs even when the testament service is free. Check current fees before relying on an advertised price.

Common mistakes when making a Wassiya without guidance

• Signing a printed template and assuming it is a French holographic will
• Forgetting the full day, month, and year
• Treating the one-third limit as a Qur’anic rule rather than a hadith-based rule
• Leaving an additional bequest to an heir despite the majority rule in Sunan Abi Dawud 2870
• Ignoring the French hereditary reserve and available portion
• Omitting debts, unpaid Zakat, funeral wishes, or a replacement guardian
• Hiding the only copy where nobody will find it

The Prophet ﷺ taught that a Muslim with something to bequeath should not let two nights pass without having a written will (Sahih al-Bukhari 2738; Sahih Muslim 1627a for two nights; Muslim 1627d for three nights). A simple, correct document prepared today is better than a perfect document indefinitely postponed.

Frequently asked questions

Is a handwritten Wassiya valid? Yes, when it satisfies Article 970 of the Code civil and mandatory French succession law.

Can I make a Wassiya online for free? Yes. Wassiyatoun’s guided tool is free. Handwrite the final text if you want a holographic will.

Do I need a notary to make a Wassiya? No. A notary is helpful for advice and safekeeping and is required when an estate with real property is administered.

How long does it take? The guided will takes about ten minutes; checking and handwriting it takes longer.

How much may I freely bequeath? Islamically, no more than one third of the net estate under the hadith of Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas. Under French law, remain within the available portion.

Is an online Wassiya legally valid in France? It becomes a holographic will only after the complete text is handwritten, dated, and signed.

Can it include funeral wishes? Yes. State them clearly and tell trusted relatives where the document is kept.

Sources

1. Legifrance — Code civil, Article 970
2. L.E.S. Musulmans — Islamic will template
3. Muslim wills in France
4. Islamweb — Making a will under Islamic rules
5. Wassiya — Create a guided Islamic will

Continue reading

• How to make an Islamic will — complete 2026 guide
• Writing a Wassiya without a notary — 2026 guide