How Should I Correctly Sign My Will?

Note: The following article is part of our Complimentary Articles Series, designed to provide additional insights and detailed information on specific topics within estate planning.

Alongside this article, we suggest exploring our pillar articles for a comprehensive understanding of general legal issues related to estate planning.

• Can I Challenge or Contest a Will?
• I Think a Will is Invalid. What Do I Do?
• What Are the Rules of Intestacy?
• What Makes a Will Legal?
• Can I Change My Will?
• How Can I Revoke a Will?

INTRODUCTION

In estate planning, your Will is not considered legally valid until it is signed correctly. However, to ensure your instructions are respected, a strict protocol must be followed beyond just putting pen to paper.

This article outlines the required steps and safety measures to implement to ensure the legal validity of your Will.

PREPARE YOUR WILL FOR SIGNATURE

• Practice Your Signature on a Copy: You might want to sign a copy of the Will before signing the original. Having a 'trial run' tends to calm any anxieties beforehand and avoids any potential errors.

• Familiarise Yourself with the Entire Process: Read these instructions a couple of times to familiarise yourself with the entire process and communicate the process clearly with your witnesses to ensure you maintain protocol. Above all, make sure that your handwriting throughout the signature process is clear and consistent.

• Enter the Date: Start by entering the date in long format on your Will. To avoid any confusion or misunderstanding, use the long format, so "August 7th 2001" is better than 07/07/01 since certain countries have different date formats.

• Where to Sign: Look for the signature box, which is usually located just below the date box. This is where you'll be signing your Will. Don't sign just yet. Continue to the instructions below.

THE ACT OF SIGNING

• Have Your Witnesses Present: It is a legal requirement for two witnesses to be present and in the same room, observing as you sign your Will, with each person witnessing the others in turn. These witnesses should not be the Will's Beneficiaries or Beneficiaries' spouses. Doing so renders their inheritance invalid. When you sign your Will, you must ensure that Witnesses have a clear line of sight.

• Sign Your Will: Ensure the witnesses are watching as you sign your Will in the space provided. To avoid discrepancies, ensure the signature matches your Will's name. It is preferable to use black ink.

• Witness Signatures: After you sign your Will, your witnesses must also sign. Again, make sure there is a clear line of sight and that everybody uses the same pen, preferably with black ink.

• Witness Information: After signing in the appropriate spaces, witnesses must write down their full name, address, and occupation. They must write their full names in order to identify themselves clearly. Initials should not be used.

Need to know more?

If you have any questions about your Will or Estate, feel free to contact us for an initial free no-obligation call, where we'll bring you through some options to secure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Book a callback, and we'd be happy to arrange a no-cost, no-obligation discussion with you to lay out the options available.

Alternatively, call us on 01233 659 796.

Or reach out to us here.