What are the requirements for an English or Welsh Will to be valid?
The Will must be written in English or Welsh. The person who is making the Will must be over 18 and have the necessary level of capacity at the time they execute their Will. They must sign their Will (or have it signed on their behalf), indicating their knowledge and approval of the content in the sight of two witnesses present at the same time. The witnesses must not be beneficiaries or spouses or civil partners of beneficiaries (they would lose their inheritance, unless there are two independent witnesses as well as them). The witnesses must them both sign the Will in the presence of the person whose Will it is. Special requirements apply if the person whose Will it is unable to read the Will and/or sign it, for example because they are blind or do not understand written English. Furthermore if the signature is weak or shaky additional evidence may be needed. We recommend specialist advice in all these situations. Special rules apply to persons on active military service.
