Who can witness and sign a will?
Witnessing a will might sound straightforward, but in order for it to be legally binding, you’ll need to follow the correct procedures. So to give you peace of mind, we’ve put together a guide to explain who can sign and witness a will.
Who can witness a will?
The witness must be 18 and over with capacity and if possible, not related to the testator or have any personal interest in the will. Ideally this could be a family friend or neighbour. If the beneficiary or the testators spouse or civil partner witnesses the will, this does not invalidate the will but the beneficiary forfeits the right to their share of the estate. New legislation has made it possible to witness a will virtually and this is due to end on 31 January 2024.
There are some differences regarding who can witness a will across the UK. For example, in England and Wales, you will need two independent witnesses, whereas the law in Scotland simply requires one witness or more.
Who cannot witness a will?
Aside from beneficiaries and their spouse or civil partner, you can’t witness a will if you’re blind or partially sighted. This is because the witness needs to physically see the act of putting pen to paper.
Why do you need witnesses for a will?
Witnessing a will isn’t simply a legal obligation. For a will to be valid it must be signed by the testator and their signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses. The witness must be present at the same time and must also attest and sign the will.
In Scotland, a will needs to be signed by the granter (the individual creating the will) at the bottom of each page. The granters signature should also be witnessed by one independent adult witness. Which in this case means anyone over the age of 16 can witness a signature.
Virtual will witnessing
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Wills Act 1837 was amended so that witnessing a will using video-conferencing technology has become lawful. The UK government advises that people should continue to use physical witnesses where possible, but for those shielding or self-isolating due to the pandemic, witnessing a will virtually is now admissible. The legislation applies retrospectively to any wills made since January 1st 2020. It is due to end on January 31st 2024. This may be extended or shortened depending on the public health guidelines. The law also applies to codicils, which follow the same criteria as when writing a will, such as having two independent witnesses.
How to witness a will virtually
While the context for introducing virtual wills is understandable, how exactly do you witness a will when you’re not in the room? Here is a summary of the official UK guidance.
- The will must be signed in real-time – Pre-recorded videos are not permissible, so the witnesses will need to watch the document being signed through a live-action video link.
- The witnesses must have a ‘clear line of sight’ – While there are no instructions on which video-conferencing platform to use, the witnesses must have a clear view of the signature being written, and of the document itself.
- The will maker must be visible – The witnesses must, by law, see the will maker as they sign the will. If the witness has never met the will maker, they should verify their identity by asking to see a passport of driving license picture.
- The will maker should express their intentions – In order to prove they have ‘testamentary capacity’, the will maker should address the camera before the will is signed. The following wording is suggested: ‘I (first name, surname), wish to make a will of my own free will and sign it here before these witnesses, who are witnessing me doing this remotely’.
- The video should be recorded – Ideally, the video should be recorded and retained so that it can be used as evidence in court if the will is ever challenged.
Can you sign a will virtually?
E-signatures are not permitted under the new legislation, so after the first video is made, the will must be taken to the witnesses – ideally within 24 hours – and they should sign the document with a ‘wet signature’, in the virtual presence of the will maker. According to the official guidance, it is preferred, but not essential, that the two witnesses are physically in the same room.
Learn more about how to write a will
Ultimately, writing a will and getting it signed and witnessed correctly means peace of mind for you and your loved ones. For further information, read more about how to write a will and explore our expert articles and guides.
