Tips on signing a will securely

On Behalf of | Jul 27, 2017 | Wills |

When completing a will, it is important to first ensure that you have abided by all of the content rules that your state requires. Once you have completed a valid last will and testament, the final and most vital step is to ensure that you have signed it securely and properly.

This blog will serve as a brief overview on the correct way to sign a will.

Have the will signed by a witness

You should sign your will, as well as stating in the date of signature, in the presence of two witnesses over the age of 18. Most states require that these witnesses watch you sign your will, and then sign themselves upon receipt of this.

Try to avoid writing holographic wills

Holographic wills are handwritten wills that are legal without witnesses, as long as they are handwritten, dated and signed entirely by the testator. However, they are very easy to legally challenge since there are no witnesses, so it is best to avoid making a holographic will.

Make your witnesses sign a self-approving affidavit

An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact. This is an optional action, but it gives extra security to the fact that a person witnessed the signing of your will. It will then make it extremely difficult to disprove the legitimacy of the witnesses signature.

Guidance on making your will

It is very important that you seek legal guidance in creating a will that is legally valid and that will not run into legal complications.

Source: Find law, “Signing a will,” accessed July 27, 2017

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