Do you have to have a lawyer to have a will be legal?

Or can you write one up and have it signed by two friends with a notary?
You need to have your will filed with the County Clerks' office. Simply making one and having it signed in front of a notary isn't enough.

http://www.legalzoom.com/legalzip/wills/...

The above site can handle many of hte basic legal documents like wills, living wills, trusts and such. And cheaply too.
You don't need an attorney at all. You can write one, or get a form and fill it in. To be enforceable, it must be signed by yourself and two witnesses in front of a notary, so you're covered there too.
No, you don't.
Here is a general FAQ:
http://www.legalzoom.com/customer_servic...

Yes, you need a notary with a seal. The witnesses and notary must be present when you execute (sign) the documents (Some states require 3 witnesses).

You do not need to file the documents with the County Clerk's office - but it DOES make for faster probate at the time of death.

You do not need to know your witnesses, however, if you do not - then have them sign a 'self-proving affidavit' so that they do not have to be located at the time of probate (speeds things along even if you DO know the witnesses).

Example:
http://www.woodandmeredith.com/forms/las...
A hand written will in your writing and with your signature is legal! A typed one does have to be witnessed and notarized in the state of TN it has to be notarized twice (lawyer told me that???)


Answer:
The requisites for the validity of a will vary from state to state. One thing is certain, though -- you are not required to have the will drafted by a lawyer. Make sure you do the will right, though -- and be especially wary of the advice of people who don't ask what state you are in. Keep in mind that some requirements may not be obvious to a lay person. In some states, for example, a will that's hand-written requires extra proof to be probated; wills that have been unstapled and restapled (such as when you want to make a copy) also create problems; witnesses in some jurisdictions may not be beneficiaries under the will, or intestate distributees; etc. If you want to do it yourself, make sure you research the law, and get it from reputable sources.