How to sign and witness a will

This guide is general information about the law in England and Wales. It isn't legal advice, and everyone's situation is different. If your circumstances are complicated, speak to a solicitor.

The legal requirements

For a will to be valid in England and Wales:

• it must be in writing;
• you must be 18 or over and have the mental capacity to understand what you are signing;
• you must be making it voluntarily, without pressure from anyone;
• you must sign it in the presence of two witnesses, who are both there at the same time;
• both witnesses must then sign it in front of you (they don't have to sign at the same moment as each other, but each must sign while you watch).

These rules come from the Wills Act 1837. GOV.UK has a short summary in its guide to making sure your will is legal.

Who can be a witness

A good witness is an adult who:

• is 18 or over;
• can see clearly and understands what they are witnessing;
• is not a beneficiary under your will;
• is not married to, or the civil partner of, a beneficiary.

Step by step: signing your will

1. Print your will on plain paper. Don't sign anything yet.
2. Read it through once more and check names, addresses and spellings.
3. Gather both witnesses in the same room, with a clear view of you and the document.
4. Sign and date the will at the end, using your usual signature, while both witnesses watch.
5. Each witness then signs, in front of you, and adds their full name, address and occupation.
6. Use the same pen if you can, and don't leave until everyone has signed.

If your will has more than one page, it's good practice to number them and initial the bottom of each page, so it's clear nothing has been added or removed.

Things to avoid

• Don't staple, pin or clip anything to your will, and don't remove staples once it's signed. Marks can raise questions about whether something was attached.
• Don't write on it or cross anything out after it's signed. Handwritten changes are usually ignored.
• Don't sign one at a time with witnesses arriving separately. Both must be present when you sign.

Changing your will later

To make changes, either write a new will (which should say it revokes earlier wills) or add a codicil, a short document that amends your existing will. A codicil must be signed and witnessed in exactly the same way as a will. For anything more than a small change, a new will is usually clearer.

Review your will whenever your life changes, and in particular:

• if you marry or form a civil partnership, which normally revokes your existing will automatically;
• if you divorce or separate;
• when you have children or grandchildren;
• if you move house or your finances change significantly;
• if an executor, guardian or beneficiary dies or you fall out of touch.

Where to keep your will

Your executors need the signed original. Keep it somewhere safe and dry, such as a fireproof box at home, and tell your executors where it is. You can also store it with a solicitor, your bank, a will storage company, or the Probate Service; GOV.UK covers the options in its guide to writing your will.

Not sure you need a will yet? Read what happens if you die without a will.