How to Fill Out the Mississippi Petition for Probate of Will + FAQs

The Mississippi Petition to Admit Will to Probate and for Grant of Letters Testamentary is the legal pleading you file in Chancery Court to prove a loved one’s will is valid and to be officially named the executor of their estate. It is filed by the person the will names as executor, usually a surviving spouse or adult child, in the county where the deceased lived.

Losing someone you love is hard enough without a stack of court paperwork waiting for you. This petition is the door you must walk through before any bank, title company, or insurance firm will let you touch the estate’s money or property. Get it right and the court hands you the legal keys to settle everything; get it wrong and your file can sit untouched for weeks. Mississippi has no statewide fill-in-the-blank form for this petition, which means you draft it yourself following the standard template found in the Weems treatise template and your local court rules. With more than 20,000 estates moving through Mississippi’s Chancery Courts each year, the most common reason a petition stalls is a missing attachment, such as the original will, which Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.15 flatly requires.

Here is what you will walk away knowing:

📝 How to draft and fill out every paragraph of the petition, line by line, in plain words.
📂 Which documents and ID numbers to gather before you start so nothing holds you up.
🏛️ Where to file, what it costs, and how to file by mail, in person, or through the electronic system.
⚠️ The exact field mistakes that get petitions rejected and how to dodge each one.
❓ Clear answers to the questions grieving families ask most about probating a will.

What This Petition Is and Who Must File It

The Petition to Admit Will to Probate and for Grant of Letters Testamentary is a sworn court document that does two jobs at once. First, it asks the Chancery Court to declare that the deceased person’s will is genuine and legally valid. Second, it asks the court to appoint the person named in the will as executor and to issue Letters Testamentary, which are the official papers that prove your authority to act for the estate.

In Mississippi, probate happens only in Chancery Court, never in the regular trial courts. The petition is governed by Mississippi Code Title 91, which covers wills and the administration of estates, along with the Uniform Chancery Court Rules. The statute that lets a will be admitted and an executor appointed runs through Chapter 7 of Title 91, while special shortcuts live in Chapter 5.

The person who must file is normally the executor named in the will. That person has to be at least 18, of sound mind, and willing to serve. If the named executor has died, moved away, or refuses the job, an alternate named in the will steps in, and if no one is willing, an interested heir may petition the court to appoint an administrator with the will annexed.

Three filers show up again and again in Mississippi Chancery Courts. Brenda Walker, a surviving spouse, files to probate her late husband’s simple will. Marcus Johnson, an adult son living in Texas, files as the executor of his mother’s estate that includes a house. Carla Reeves files a will that leaves only a small piece of land, using a faster path called muniment of title. Each of these people uses the same core petition, with small changes for their facts.

Skipping probate is not always an option. Banks freeze accounts, deeds cannot transfer, and life insurance with no named beneficiary will not pay out until the court recognizes someone as executor. The petition is the first and most important step that unlocks all of it.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything before you open a blank petition. A petition built from memory almost always has a wrong date or a missing fact, and each error costs you a trip back to the courthouse. Mississippi judges expect the file to be complete on day one.

Here is your pre-filing checklist, with why each item matters:

The original signed will. Rule 6.15 and Mississippi practice require the original, not a copy; without it the court cannot open testate probate and may force you into intestate administration.
A certified copy of the death certificate. The court needs proof the person actually died and the date of death; order it from the Mississippi State Department of Health vital records office.
The decedent’s full legal name and any other names used. Banks and title records may be under a maiden name or nickname, and a mismatch can stall asset transfers.
The county and address of the decedent’s residence at death. This sets which Chancery Court has jurisdiction; filing in the wrong county can get your petition dismissed.
The names and addresses of all heirs and beneficiaries. The court requires notice to these people, and a missing heir can void later steps.
The names of the will’s two attesting witnesses. Paragraph 4 of the petition lists them, and the will’s self-proving affidavit usually supplies these names.
A rough list of the estate’s assets and their value. This tells you whether a full administration, a small estate path, or muniment of title fits, and it guides bond decisions.
The decedent’s Social Security number and date of birth. These tie the estate to tax and benefit records and help the court avoid confusing two people with the same name.
Your own ID, address, and contact information. You sign the petition under oath, so the court must know who you are and how to reach you.
The filing fee, usually around $158 to $250 depending on county. No fee means no filing; the Oktibbeha County fee schedule lists probate at $158.00 as one example.

If any single item is missing, the smart move is to wait until you have it. A petition filed with gaps invites the chancellor to set it aside, and reopening a file is slower than starting clean.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

Mississippi does not publish one official statewide petition you can download and fill in. Instead, the petition is a drafted legal pleading, and most filers build it from a trusted template such as the one in Wills and Administration of Estates in Mississippi by Robert Weems, shown in the standard petition template. This template, dated to the January 2021 update, is the version most Mississippi attorneys still follow today.

You have a few ways to get a usable petition. You can adapt the published template above, you can ask the Chancery Clerk in your county whether they keep sample probate pleadings, or you can use a service that prepares Mississippi probate documents. Some county clerks keep packets for self-represented filers, while others will only hand you blank cover sheets and tell you to draft the rest.

Because the petition is a pleading, not a fill-in form, the wording matters. The numbered paragraphs must track Mississippi law closely, so copying the template structure protects you. When you adapt it, keep the paragraph order, keep the sworn jurat at the bottom, and change only the names, dates, and facts.

If your county uses the Mississippi Electronic Courts system, known as MEC, attorneys upload the petition as a PDF. Self-represented filers in most counties still bring or mail a paper original, because MEC accounts are generally limited to licensed attorneys. Always confirm your county’s exact intake method with the Chancery Clerk before you finalize anything.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Petition Line by Line

The petition follows a fixed shape. It opens with a caption, moves through six numbered fact paragraphs, states what you are asking the court to do, and ends with signatures and a sworn statement. Fill each part in order, using the exact labels printed on the template.

The Caption: Court, County, and Style of the Case

The caption sits at the very top and names the court, the county, the deceased, and the cause number. In plain English, it tells the clerk which court file this paper belongs to and what the case is called.

To answer it, type IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, then below it write IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF [DECEDENT NAME], DECEASED. Leave the cause number line blank, because the clerk assigns it when you file. Use all capital letters for the court and the case style, since that is the courthouse custom.

For example, Brenda Walker writes IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF HINDS COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI and styles her case IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JAMES WALKER, DECEASED. She leaves the NO. line empty.

A common edge case is a person who lived in one county but owned land in another. You file in the county of residence at death, not where the land sits, so Brenda files in Hinds because James lived in Jackson. A frequent mistake here is guessing the county; filing in the wrong county can force a transfer or dismissal and waste weeks. Many filers wrongly believe the case is named after the living petitioner, but the case is always styled in the name of the deceased and the will.

Paragraph 1: The Petitioner’s Identity and the Decedent’s Death

This paragraph names you as the petitioner and states when and where the decedent died. It proves to the court that you are a real adult resident and that this county is the right place to file.

Write your full legal name, then state that you are an adult resident citizen of the county. Next, fill in the death date and confirm the decedent had a fixed place of residence and was an adult resident citizen of that county at death. Use the format Month Day, Year for the date, such as March 14, 2026.

For example, Marcus Johnson writes that he is an adult resident citizen of Madison County and that the Decedent departed this life on January 9, 2026, with a fixed residence in Madison County. He names his mother as the Decedent.

An edge case appears when the petitioner lives out of state, as Marcus actually lives in Texas. Mississippi allows a nonresident to serve as executor if the will names him, though the court may require a resident agent for service of process, so add that detail when it applies. A common mistake is listing the wrong death date, which then clashes with the death certificate and triggers a hold. Some filers think they must already live in Mississippi to serve as executor, but residency of the decedent, not the petitioner, controls where you file.

Paragraph 2: The Will and Its Filing

This paragraph states that the decedent made a will and that you are filing the original with the court. It also points the court to a copy attached as Exhibit “A.”

State the date the will was signed, then write that you file the original instrument for probate and attach a true and correct copy as Exhibit “A.” Spell out the will’s signing date the same way you wrote the death date. Physically attach a full copy of the will behind the petition and label it clearly.

For example, Brenda Walker writes that on June 2, 2019, Decedent made, published, and declared his Last Will and Testament, and she files the original while attaching a copy as Exhibit “A.”

A tricky edge case is a will that was amended by a codicil. You must file and attach both the original will and every codicil, because together they are the complete testamentary document. The most damaging mistake on this paragraph is failing to attach the will copy, since Rule 6.15 requires it and the chancellor can refuse to admit the will without it. People often believe a photocopy of the will is enough to file; the court needs the original lodged with the clerk, with the copy only serving as the exhibit.

Paragraph 3: The Will Was Validly Made

This paragraph swears that the decedent was over 18, of sound mind, and that the will meets Mississippi’s legal formalities. It is the heart of proving the will is real.

State that the will was signed and published when the decedent was over 18 and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and that it follows the formalities for attested wills under Mississippi law. Keep the wording close to the template, because these are legal terms of art. Do not add your own commentary about the decedent’s health.

For example, Carla Reeves writes that her aunt was over the age of 18 and was of sound and disposing mind and memory and that the will is in strict conformity with the formalities and requirements of law.

An edge case is a holographic, or handwritten, will, which Mississippi recognizes if it is wholly written and signed by the decedent. For a holographic will you adjust this paragraph to describe handwriting rather than attesting witnesses. A common mistake is leaving this paragraph out to save space, which leaves the will’s validity unproven and invites a challenge. Many people think the court automatically trusts any signed paper as a will, but the petition must affirmatively swear to the legal requirements.

Paragraph 4: The Attesting Witnesses

This paragraph names the two people who witnessed the will and notes that their affidavit is part of the will. It connects the will to its proof of execution.

Write the full names of both attesting witnesses, then state that their affidavit is part of the will attached as Exhibit “A.” If the will is self-proving, the witnesses’ sworn affidavit is already attached, which is the smoothest path. Use the names exactly as they appear on the will’s signature page.

For example, Brenda Walker names Linda Carter and Robert Pruitt as the two subscribing witnesses and points to their self-proving affidavit inside the will.

The key edge case is a will with no self-proving affidavit. Then you must locate the living witnesses and have them sign affidavits proving the will, or, if they have died, prove their signatures another way under Mississippi law. The common mistake is naming only one witness or guessing names; Mississippi generally requires two witnesses, and a wrong name can force you to track down proof later. Filers often assume a notary on the will counts as a witness, but the attesting witnesses and the notary serve different legal roles.

Paragraph 5: Nomination of the Executor

This paragraph states that the will names you as executor and that you are qualified and willing to serve. It is the basis for the court issuing your Letters Testamentary.

Write that the will nominated and appointed you, the petitioner, as executor, and that you are qualified, willing, and able to serve. Match the title used in the will, whether it says executor, executrix, or personal representative. Confirm you meet the basic requirements of being an adult of sound mind.

For example, Marcus Johnson writes that Decedent’s Last Will and Testament nominated and appointed Marcus Johnson, your Petitioner, as Executor, and that he is qualified and willing to serve.

An edge case arises when the will names co-executors. Then both must petition or join, and the petition should state that each accepts the role. A common mistake is petitioning to be executor when the will actually named someone else first; if the first-named person is alive and willing, the court appoints them, not you. People often think being the closest relative makes them executor, but the will’s nomination controls, not family rank.

Paragraph 6: Waiver of Bond, Inventory, and Accounting

This paragraph tells the court the will excuses the executor from posting a bond and from filing an inventory, appraisal, and accounting. It saves the estate money and time when the will allows it.

State that under the will the decedent directed that bond, inventory, appraisal, and accounting not be required. Only include this paragraph if the will actually contains that waiver language. If the will is silent, you must either post bond or ask the court to waive it with the consent of all heirs.

For example, Brenda Walker writes that Decedent expressly directed that bond, inventory, appraisal, and accounting to the Court not be required, because James’s will included that clause.

A common edge case is a will that waives bond but not accounting, or the reverse. Read the will carefully and mirror only what it actually waives, paragraph by paragraph. The mistake to avoid is claiming a waiver the will does not contain, which the chancellor will catch and which can require you to post a bond after all. Many filers believe bond is always waived for family executors, but without will language or heir consent, Mississippi can require a surety bond that costs real money.

The Prayer for Relief

The prayer is the formal “ask.” It restates what you want the court to order, namely to admit the will and appoint you executor.

Write that you pray the will dated on its signing date be declared the true Last Will and Testament and admitted to probate and recorded, and that you be appointed executor with Letters Testamentary issued upon your oath, bond waived, and inventory and accounting waived. Keep the two numbered prayers in the same order as the template. Close with the catch-all request for such other and more general relief as the Court deems proper.

For example, Carla Reeves prays that the will be admitted and that she be appointed executrix with Letters issued upon her oath.

An edge case is the muniment of title path, where you do not ask for Letters or an executor and instead ask only that the will be admitted as a muniment of title under Section 91-5-35. The mistake here is mismatching the prayer with the facts, such as asking for Letters when no administration is needed. People often think the prayer is just boilerplate, but the chancellor’s order tracks the prayer, so a wrong ask leads to a wrong order.

Signature, Attorney Block, and the Sworn Jurat

The closing block holds your signature, the attorney’s signature if you have one, and the notarized oath that everything in the petition is true. This is what makes the petition a sworn legal document.

Sign as petitioner, and if an attorney prepared it, the attorney signs and adds a State Bar number, address, and phone. Then complete the jurat: in front of a notary, swear the matters in the petition are true and correct, sign again, and let the notary complete the SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED line with the date and commission expiration. Do not sign the jurat until you are in front of the notary.

For example, Marcus Johnson signs as Petitioner, his attorney signs with State Bar No. 104872, and a notary completes the jurat dated the day Marcus swears to it.

A frequent edge case is a self-represented filer with no attorney; you simply leave the attorney lines blank and complete your own signature and the jurat. The biggest mistake is signing the jurat before reaching the notary, which makes the oath invalid and the petition defective. Many people think any signature is enough, but an unsworn petition has no legal force, and the clerk can reject it on sight.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These three walkthroughs follow named filers through the petition from top to bottom. They show how the same template flexes for different facts.

Scenario 1: Brenda Walker, surviving spouse with a simple self-proving will, bond waived.

Petition Section	What Brenda Enters
Caption	IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF HINDS COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JAMES WALKER, DECEASED
Paragraph 1 (petitioner/death)	Brenda Walker, adult resident citizen of Hinds County; Decedent died March 2, 2026, residing in Hinds County
Paragraph 2 (the will)	Will signed June 2, 2019; original filed, copy attached as Exhibit “A”
Paragraph 3 (validity)	Decedent over 18, of sound and disposing mind, will in strict conformity with law
Paragraph 4 (witnesses)	Linda Carter and Robert Pruitt; self-proving affidavit attached
Paragraph 5 (executor)	Will nominated Brenda Walker as Executrix; qualified and willing
Paragraph 6 (waivers)	Bond, inventory, appraisal, and accounting all waived by the will
Prayer	Admit will to probate; appoint Brenda as Executrix; issue Letters upon oath
Jurat	Brenda signs and swears before a notary in Hinds County

Scenario 2: Marcus Johnson, out-of-state adult son, estate includes a house and several heirs.

Petition Section	What Marcus Enters
Caption	IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF MADISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DORIS JOHNSON, DECEASED
Paragraph 1 (petitioner/death)	Marcus Johnson, named executor; Decedent died January 9, 2026, residing in Madison County
Paragraph 2 (the will)	Will signed August 15, 2021; original filed, copy attached as Exhibit “A”
Paragraph 3 (validity)	Decedent over 18, of sound mind, will meets Mississippi formalities
Paragraph 4 (witnesses)	Gloria Banks and Henry Pace; affidavit part of the will
Paragraph 5 (executor)	Will nominated Marcus Johnson as Executor; willing to serve, resident agent named
Paragraph 6 (waivers)	Bond waived by will; inventory required because will is silent on it
Prayer	Admit will; appoint Marcus as Executor; issue Letters; notice to all heirs
Jurat	Marcus signs and swears before a notary, with attorney block completed

Scenario 3: Carla Reeves, will leaving only real estate, filed as muniment of title.

Petition Section	What Carla Enters
Caption	IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF DESOTO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF EVELYN REEVES, DECEASED
Paragraph 1 (petitioner/death)	Carla Reeves, niece and devisee; Decedent died February 20, 2026, residing in DeSoto County
Paragraph 2 (the will)	Will signed May 1, 2018; original filed, copy attached as Exhibit “A”
Paragraph 3 (validity)	Decedent over 18, of sound mind, will valid under Mississippi law
Paragraph 4 (witnesses)	Two attesting witnesses named; self-proving affidavit attached
Estate description	Estate consists only of described real property; no debts requiring administration
Statutory basis	Filed under Section 91-5-35 as a muniment of title only
Prayer	Admit will as muniment of title; no executor or Letters requested
Jurat	Carla signs and swears before a notary in DeSoto County

How to File the Completed Petition

You file the petition with the Chancery Clerk in the county where the decedent lived at death. Mississippi gives you a few channels, and the right one depends on whether you have an attorney and what your county allows.

Filing in person. Bring the signed and notarized petition, the original will, the attached will copy as Exhibit “A,” and a certified death certificate to the Chancery Clerk’s office. For Hinds County, that is the Hinds County Chancery Court clerk’s office in Jackson. Pay the filing fee, often around $158 to $250, by cash, check, or money order, and ask the clerk to stamp a copy as your proof of filing.

Filing by mail. Mail the same complete package to the Chancery Clerk’s mailing address, with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Because the original will travels in the mail, use certified mail with tracking and keep the receipt as proof. Call the clerk first to confirm they accept mailed originals, since some prefer in-person lodging of the will.

Filing electronically through MEC. Licensed attorneys file through the Mississippi Electronic Courts portal by uploading the petition as a PDF and paying online, while still delivering the original paper will to the clerk. Self-represented filers generally cannot open an MEC account, so they use the in-person or mail channels instead. Expect initial processing within a few days to a few weeks, depending on the county’s docket.

Keep proof of everything. Your stamped copy, mailing receipt, or MEC confirmation is the record that you filed on time and complete. Without proof, a lost file becomes your problem to untangle.

What Happens After You File

After filing, the chancellor reviews the petition and the will. If the will is self-proving and the paperwork is in order, many Mississippi courts admit the will and appoint the executor without a live hearing, sometimes the same week.

Once the court signs the order admitting the will, you take the executor’s oath, and the clerk issues your Letters Testamentary. Those Letters are the documents banks and title companies want to see, so order several certified copies at once. With Letters in hand, you can open an estate bank account, collect assets, and start paying valid debts.

Next comes notice. Mississippi requires you to publish a notice to creditors, usually for three consecutive weeks in a local newspaper, and to give known creditors and heirs direct notice. Creditors then have a set window, commonly 90 days from first publication, to file claims against the estate, and you should not distribute assets until that window closes and valid claims are handled.

The estate stays open until debts, taxes, and distributions are complete. If the will waived accounting, you may close more simply; if not, you file a final accounting and a petition to close. Only after the court’s final decree are you fully released as executor.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Petition

Each line on this petition is its own chance to slip. These are the errors Mississippi clerks and chancellors see most, with the cost of each.

Filing a copy instead of the original will. The court cannot admit a copy in routine probate, and your case stalls until the original surfaces.
Forgetting to attach the will as Exhibit “A.” Rule 6.15 requires the attachment, so the petition is defective without it.
Filing in the wrong county. Jurisdiction follows the decedent’s residence, and a wrong county can mean transfer or dismissal.
Wrong death date. A date that clashes with the death certificate triggers a hold while the court resolves the conflict.
Signing the jurat before the notary. An oath not taken in front of the notary is invalid, making the whole petition unsworn.
Claiming a bond waiver the will lacks. The chancellor can require a surety bond, adding cost and delay.
Naming the wrong executor. If the will names someone ahead of you, the court appoints them, not you.
Listing only one attesting witness. Mississippi generally requires two, and a gap forces extra proof of the will.
Leaving heirs off the petition. Missing notice to an heir can unravel later steps and expose you to challenge.
Mismatching the prayer with the facts. Asking for Letters in a muniment-of-title case produces an order that does not fit your needs.
Forgetting the certified death certificate. Without proof of death, the clerk may refuse to open the file.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

Do file the original will, not a copy, because Mississippi probate depends on the original document.
Do attach a full copy as Exhibit “A,” since the court rule requires it and it speeds review.
Do match every name to the will and the death certificate, to prevent holds from mismatches.
Do swear the petition in front of a notary, because an unsworn petition has no legal force.
Do order several certified Letters Testamentary, since each bank and title company wants its own.
Do confirm your county’s filing method first, because in-person, mail, and MEC rules vary by court.

Don’ts

Don’t guess at dates or names, because errors clash with official records and cause delays.
Don’t claim waivers the will does not contain, or the court may force a bond on you.
Don’t distribute assets before the creditor window closes, since you can be personally liable for unpaid claims.
Don’t file in a county where the decedent did not live, because jurisdiction can fail.
Don’t sign the jurat at home, as the notary must watch you swear and sign.
Don’t skip notice to heirs and creditors, because missed notice can void your progress.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With an Attorney

Mississippi lets you file pro se, but full estate administration is detailed, and many filers hire counsel. Weigh both paths against your estate’s size and complexity.

Pros of filing on your own

You save attorney fees, which matters most for small, simple estates.
You control the pace, filing as soon as your documents are ready.
You learn the estate intimately, which helps with later tasks.
Simple self-proving wills with one heir are often manageable alone.
Muniment of title cases can be straightforward enough for a careful filer.

Cons of filing on your own

One field error can stall the whole case, costing weeks.
You shoulder fiduciary liability for mistakes in notice or distribution.
Disputes among heirs quickly outgrow a layperson’s skill.
Drafting the pleading correctly is hard, since there is no fill-in form.
Courts may still expect attorney-quality filings, which raises the bar for pro se filers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to hire a lawyer to probate a will in Mississippi?

No. You can file pro se, but Mississippi estate administration is complex, and many filers hire counsel for estates with real property, multiple heirs, or any chance of a dispute.

Is there an official state form for this petition?

No. Mississippi has no statewide fill-in form; you draft the petition as a pleading using a standard template and your county’s rules.

Must I file the original will, or is a copy enough?

No, a copy is not enough for routine probate. You must lodge the original will with the court and attach a copy as Exhibit “A.”

Where do I file the petition?

Yes, location matters: you file in the Chancery Court of the county where the decedent lived at death, not where their property sits.

Do I write the decedent’s name or my own in the case caption?

No, not your own. The case is styled in the name of the deceased and the will, while your name appears in Paragraph 1 as petitioner.

Do I list both witnesses in Paragraph 4 or just one?

Yes, list both. Mississippi generally requires two attesting witnesses, and the petition names both, matching the will’s signature page.

Can I sign the sworn jurat at home before going to the clerk?

No. You must sign the jurat in front of a notary, or the oath is invalid and the petition is defective.

Do I include Paragraph 6 if the will does not waive bond?

No. Only include the waiver paragraph if the will actually waives bond, inventory, and accounting; otherwise you must address bond another way.

Can an out-of-state person serve as executor?

Yes. A nonresident named in the will can serve, though the court may require a Mississippi resident agent for service of process.

How much does it cost to file?

Yes, there is a fee, commonly around $158 to $250 depending on the county, payable by cash, check, or money order at filing.

Do I need the death certificate to file?

Yes. A certified copy of the death certificate proves the death and date, and the clerk may refuse to open the file without it.

Can I use this petition if the will leaves only real estate?

Yes, but you adjust it. For real property only, you may file as muniment of title under Section 91-5-35, which skips appointing an executor.

How long until I get Letters Testamentary?

Yes, there is a wait. With a clean, self-proving petition, many counties issue Letters within days to a few weeks after filing.

Do I write dates with slashes or spelled out?

Yes, spell them out for the body text, such as March 14, 2026, and follow your county’s preference, keeping every date consistent with the death certificate.

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