No One to Witness My Will – Please Help

AeroJ

My Will is complete but I’m struggling to find witnesses.

I have only a few friends/family, all of which are beneficiaries (or their spouses) so they cannot be witnesses.

I’m retired so have no work colleagues to ask, my neighbours aren’t an option and I don’t know or trust anyone else well enough to ask. My GP said no even for a fee. I’m happy to pay a professional and approached a notary but they couldn’t help either.

Feeling really stuck and frustrated so any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

JosephK

If your will is being drawn up by a solicitor, normal practice is for two of their staff to act as witnesses

Keep_pedalling

I presume this is a DIY will otherwise the solicitor would have it witnessed in their office.

You don’t need to know someone well to ask the witnesses can be total strangers. Witnesses not need to see the contents, just you signing it.

DIY wills are not recommended unless you have a very simple cash estate so a professionally drawn up one with a solicitor will cover this issue.

AeroJ

Keep_pedalling said:

I presume this is a DIY will otherwise the solicitor would have it witnessed in their office.

You don’t need to know someone well to ask the witnesses can be total strangers. Witnesses not need to see the contents, just you signing it.

DIY wills are not recommended unless you have a very simple cash estate so a professionally drawn up one with a solicitor will cover this issue.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, a Farewill Will. My estate is fairly simple but I do own a property. I'm happy to pay a solicitor to draft a Will if this solves the witnesses issue?

theoretica

Ask a local friend/family member to rope in their neighbours or friends?  You provide tea and biscuits, meet at a cafe or go round to their house? 

p00hsticks

AeroJ said:

Keep_pedalling said:

I presume this is a DIY will otherwise the solicitor would have it witnessed in their office.

You don’t need to know someone well to ask the witnesses can be total strangers. Witnesses not need to see the contents, just you signing it.

DIY wills are not recommended unless you have a very simple cash estate so a professionally drawn up one with a solicitor will cover this issue.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, a Farewill Will. My estate is fairly simple but I do own a property. I'm happy to pay a solicitor to draft a Will if this solves the witnesses issue?

Yes - if you get a solicitor to draft it they and their staff will be able to act as witnesses, and it's also a good idea anyhow to ensure that you have considered all the options and have all the wording right.

Just don't let them talk you into being named as executors - name one or more of the beneficiaries, who can always employ the services of a solicitor at the time if they feel they need to.

AeroJ

p00hsticks said:

AeroJ said:

Keep_pedalling said:

I presume this is a DIY will otherwise the solicitor would have it witnessed in their office.

You don’t need to know someone well to ask the witnesses can be total strangers. Witnesses not need to see the contents, just you signing it.

DIY wills are not recommended unless you have a very simple cash estate so a professionally drawn up one with a solicitor will cover this issue.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, a Farewill Will. My estate is fairly simple but I do own a property. I'm happy to pay a solicitor to draft a Will if this solves the witnesses issue?

Yes - if you get a solicitor to draft it they and their staff will be able to act as witnesses, and it's also a good idea anyhow to ensure that you have considered all the options and have all the wording right.

Just don't let them talk you into being named as executors - name one or more of the beneficiaries, who can always employ the services of a solicitor at the time if they feel they need to.

I named Farewill as joint executors as I want to make things as easy as possible for my friends & family when I pass and they’re not very legal-savvy, but now feel this wasn’t such a good idea. Thanks for your advice.

BooJewels

I'm another advocate of getting your Will professionally drawn up and this also has the bonus for you (and me at the time) of having witnesses to hand and getting it all sorted very quickly and easily.  They can store it for you too and provide certified copies when/if required.

You don't need to be legal-savvy to execute a will - just prepared to make phone calls, maybe write a few letters and emails and fill in forms largely. It is a decent sized task and responsibility, so ensure that your executors are suitably recompensed for that process.  Using professional executors will both add to the costs to the estate, leaving less for your beneficiaries, but we hear many tales on here of how long it can take too - years rather than months.

It won't ultimately make any difference to you, but a well thought out Will and service might make life much easier for your executors - or conversely, a poor will can cause real problems.

ETA:  It can also really help your executors, to have your affairs in good shape - keep good records or at least a reliable filing system and maybe appraise your executors of where papers are kept and how your finances are arranged.

Spendless

Please don't do a DIY will and especially not since you own property, they are so easy to get wrong. I have to check some in my job and a recent one, the testator had signed on the wrong line. I understood why they'd got confused but had to refer it to higher up than me to look at it. It's just not worth the risk. pay a solicitor and then you'll also get  witnesses too. 

cymruchris

Another vote for getting it done by a solicitor. My local one did my dad's will, they provided the witnesses.

poppystar

I have to say I would usually agree on a solicitor however I saw a talk by a Farewill person last week (they are currently partnered with RNLI) and I was very impressed. The important things we see mentioned on this forum were all covered as were pitfalls with a poor Will. If you have got to the signing part then go ahead and get it witnessed by anyone who isn’t a beneficiary. Good suggestions above for finding people. No one has to see the document they just have to see you sign it then add their signature and details. I’ve witnessed a fair few things for occasional coffee buddies, no idea what they were and no reason I should. I accepted the coffee and cake in payment though! 

If this is a free Will you can always think later about whether you’d like to revisit it with a solicitor in the future and pay for an updated Will. I think better to have a Will now than delay.