What makes a will valid? Private Wealth
For a will to be valid certain steps must be taken and conditions met.
Firstly, a will must be signed in the presence of at least two witnesses who are over the age of 18. The witnesses must also sign the will in the presence of the person making the will. Ideally, you will meet your witnesses in person, but this can also be done remotely via video conferencing.
It is worth noting that you cannot leave your witnesses or their spouses anything in your will.
For your will to be legally valid, you must also:
- Be aged 18 or over.
- Have made your will voluntarily, not coerced or influenced by anyone else.
- Be of sound mind.
- Make your will in writing.
What happens if a will is not valid?
If a will is found not to be valid, the wishes you have documented in it cannot be carried out.
A previous valid will would be used instead or, if there is no previous will, the deceased’s estate will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy.
Private Wealth