Making a will
Make sure your will is legal
For your will to be legally valid, you must:
- be 18 or over
- make it voluntarily
- be of sound mind
- make it in writing
- sign it in the presence of 2 witnesses who are both over 18
- have it signed by your 2 witnesses, in your presence
Signing and witnessing your will
You and your witnesses must sign the same document.
When you sign your will, both of your witnesses must have a clear view of you and the act of signing.
You can ask someone to sign on your behalf if you’re unable to do it.
When your witnesses sign your will, you must have a clear view of them and the act of signing. Your witnesses do not need to sign it at the same time as each other.
You cannot leave your witnesses (or their married partners) anything in your will.
If you make any changes to your will you must follow the same signing and witnessing process.
Signing your will remotely
If you cannot meet with your witnesses in person, you can watch each other sign your will remotely (for example by video conferencing).
You can only sign remotely in England or Wales.