Who can witness a will?

Brilley

Mojisola wrote: »

As long as the testator is seen to sign the will and both the witnesses sign it (whoever they are), the will is legal.

If beneficiaries or the spouses of beneficiaries sign as witnesses, they cannot have their inheritance.

You can use other relatives but the advice is that it's best to use independent people as witnesses - using family members could raise the issue that you were coerced into signing the will and this could delay the probate process.

..brill, thanks for the reply...

bigpappa

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

OP - does the will make provision for your four-year-old son (the one who inexplicably "forgot" to take his passport with him) in case you die before your parents? Sorry - but I posted on that thread and your name rang a bell.


As others say, safer to go to a solicitor so nothing is forgotten or overlooked...

Well that episode worked out fine, what are you implying with "forgot"? :eek:

Looks like a solicitor job- didnt consider the possibilty of dying before my parents. Not something I think about.

74jax

bigpappa wrote: »

:

Looks like a solicitor job- didnt consider the possibilty of dying before my parents. Not something I think about.

But you shouldn't have to THINK of these scenarios, that's what the solicitor does, god knows what the company you thought about using has done... The mind boggles.

The solicitor will come up with every scenario possible and cover everything off in the will. My parents were asked what would happen if I was in a car crash with my daughter and we died together. Something I didn't even think about until the meeting.

Silvertabby

“ OK, I understand that witnesses cannot be beneficiaries, but does this mean that a will could still be "legal" if it is witnessed/signed by a relative that is not a beneficiary?
Originally posted by Brilley

Yes, but it would be better if someone else could do the witnessing.

Long story - and, believe it or not, this way worked out best for me - but when my dad signed his will it was at home, but in the presence of his solicitor. He left the house to my sister, with my agreement - but the solicitor wasn't happy with me being a witness in case I changed my mind and contested the will. I did sign, and I didn't contest the will