Probate office requiring Will witness details - why?

pjs493

I've been reading through the boards and have noticed that a few people have had their applications for Probate delayed due to the Probate office requesting details of the witnesses who signed the Will. Is this just a random check that they do, or are there specific reasons why this might be needed, eg because it is a holographic or DIY Will, or because of some issues relating to the circumstances the Will was written under, or because the Will was written a long time ago?

I'm asking the question because the witnesses who signed my husband's Will were military friends of ours and no longer live at the addresses they lived at and added under their names on the Will. It might take some time for me to find their new contact details if these are required so I'm just wondering why details of witnesses may be needed in case I need to start trying to track them down.

Keep_pedalling

It is unlikely this will be required unless there is something odd about the signature or the signature wa# note dated. 

Slowplod

I had my late mother's probate put on hold as they wanted to contact the witnesses as they weren't happy with her signature as her writing was very shaky (she was 86 and suffering with cancer when she updated her will).  The will was fairly new and was done by a solicitor and witnessed by 2 employees from the solicitors office. I had to provide the contact details of the witnesses so probate could send them a questionnaire to fill in to make sure it had been carried out correctly. Probate did eventually go through but there was quite a long delay.  I don't think they pick random wills to check, it was just down to my mums handwriting being shaky so you shouldn't have a problem if your husband's signature is clear.