will signatory

climber732

I've been told that a witness to my will must be someone who knows me personally. Is this right? I always thought that, for example, a solicitor's clerk could be a witness.

MikeJXE

My will 3 years ago was witnessed by my someone in my solicitors office and I did not know them

Rodders53

TWO Witnesses, both present to see YOU sign the document…

No need to know you, nor what the document contains.

Typically the Solicitor; and a Clerk/Secretary called in for that moment only.

elsien

Been told by who exactly? Mine was also witnessed by someone in the solicitor’s office that I’d never met before.

Keep_pedalling

Total BS.

This would suggest you are not using a solicitor to make your will. Unless you have a very simple estate with no property you really should use a solicitor. A will is one of the most important documents you make and you should not be penny pinching on it.

poseidon1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82072419#Comment_82072419

One would have hoped that since the OP's estate is valued around £2 million ( previous post), there should no question of not using a competent solicitor in the matter of his will.

However, in asking his question here ( rather than a solicitor) suggests a solicitor is not yet in the picture?

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82072494#Comment_82072494

Unfortunately (for some reason) people seem to penny pinch on this stuff.

Silvertabby

The witnesses - or their spouses - cannot be beneficiaries. Our Wills were witnessed by two of our solicitor's office staff.

MEM62

I've been told that a witness to my will must be someone who knows me personally.

Which is why you need to be selective in who you listen to. It's nonsense.

The individual is not witnessing your will, they are witnessing your signature.

Jude57

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6676532/will-signatory

Is the person who told you that confusing the issue with having a passport photo countersigned? That's what sprang to mind when reading your post.

As you had thought, and as everyone else has confirmed, the witnesses are simply witnessing your signature. Decades ago I worked in private practice and was a witness to the signing of Wills, conveyancing documents, other types of contract and more that I can't currently recall but it was a rare day when I wasn't called in to a solicitor's office to witness something. You'll know that a witness adds their signature, prints their name, their address and occupation. In my case, the address given was that of the practice. Also in my case, I often knew exactly what was in the documents because I'd drafted them and that will apply to many employees in solicitors' offices but it's certainly not necessary for the witnesses to know either the Testator (of whom the solicitor/legal executive/paralegal supervising the case will have established identity) or the contents of the Will.