In this section:
Why you need a witness
4 steps to making your Will valid

Why you need a witness

In order to ensure the enforceability of your Will, you must follow the specific instructions in the BuildaWill™ Program for the signing and the witnessing of your Will.

Once you have downloaded and thoroughly reviewed your Will under the BuildaWill™ Program, you are ready to sign your Will.

Do not sign your Will until you have all of the witnesses, and if you choose, a notary public present. You may also want to complete a self-proving affidavit at this time. Set out below are the formal requirements for the signing and witnessing of your Will. These instructions are simple but must be strictly observed.

4 steps to making your Will valid

Instructions for the signing of your Will:

(ii) Select two adult Witnesses (three in Vermont). They cannot be Beneficiaries. They must not be minors. All Witnesses must be present at the same time to witness the signing of your Will.

(ii) It is always recommended to have a self-proving affidavit that ensures the signatures are authentic. In order to do so, you should select a local notary public to be present when you and the witnesses sign. Most banks, real estate offices and/or government offices have notary public services. Please note a notary public cannot be one of the Witnesses.

(iii) When all Witnesses and the notary public are in attendance, you can advise them that you have in front of you your Last Will and Testament, which you wish to sign and have them witness. You then sign your Will using your normal signature with a pen. Following signature of your Will, you can then pass your Will to the witnesses who may sign where indicated, filling in their names and addresses.

(iv) Following the signing of the Will by the witnesses, the notary public can sign in the space indicated.

Table of Contents | Go to next Section... | go to page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13