Solicitors to provide witness to Will signature

mills112

Anyone used solicitors to write the will and who also provide the two independent witnesses to the signature?

Do most solicitors provide this service if you need it?

TonyMMM

Quite normal, a couple of their staff will often act as witnesses.

elsien

Yes, I had two of the solicitor’s staff witness my will. Standard practice.

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110552#Comment_82110552

I had started an on-line will writing process with the co-op legal services as they offer very cheap prices. Then I realised that it is not easy for me to get two independent witnesses to be together at the same time to witness my signature so I called them to cancel the appointment.

I explained the reason for the cancellation and the advisor told me it is not possible to get solicitors to witness my will. I was quite surprised to hear this as I had read on google search that this was possible. She reluctantly said that I could do if I went to a high street solicitors. So doesn't give me much confidence in their service if they give out false information.

It made me doubt what I had read on google search and thought perhaps it is not something that most solicitors will provide, so good to hear that they do if you need them to.

oldernonethewiser

My solicitor witnessed my Will.

Only one witness required in Scotland.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110582#Comment_82110582

She may have meant you could not take a completed will into a Solicitors and ask them to witness it.

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110633#Comment_82110633

it is not always practical to have two independent witness witness your will at the same time! i don't know a lot of people and i don't have much family. the beneficiaries in my will can't witness my signature so i have to find two people who aren't in my will that i know, who will be able to be together when i am signing the will.

the requirement of having the two witnesses be together should be removed as it is not always practical.

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110716#Comment_82110716

that was something that i was thinking as well. could i take a completed will and pay the solicitors to witness the signature. i can't see why they can't do this as it is just witnessing the signature if i can bring ID with me to prove that I am the person in the will.

i don't know why they make things so difficult. surely you should be able to pay a solicitor to be a witness of your signature like you can to prove your ID.

RAS

You don't need 2 people who know you. If you had your will was written by a solicitor they'd ask two random members of staff who happened to be in the building to witness the signature. Good chance neither would know the testor. As can also happens with marriages when signatures can be witnessed by randoms.

You need two people you can ask. Could be neighbours, folk from any group you go to, fellow employees, even two randoms off the street if necessary. What is needed is their names and addresses and that they both see you sign the will. Nothing more. If you really want to secure it, maybe ask if they'd agree to being photographed by you witnessing the document?

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110803#Comment_82110803

google says that you shouldn't ask strangers as the witnesses may be called to confirm they saw you sign the will if there was doubt raised, and i doubt any stranger off the street would give their name and addresses for the witness.

all the other people you mention, you do know them. they aren't strangers. you may not be friends with them but you would know them.

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110794#Comment_82110794

You don't have to know the signatories.

Google says a lot of things. Many of them can be ignored.