Signing Your Will (England & Wales)

Before You Start

• Print your Will single-sided and keep the pages together in the correct order.
• Use permanent ink (for example, blue or black pen) and avoid pencil.
• Choose two witnesses who are independent adults (18+).

Who Can Be a Witness?

In England and Wales, your Will must be signed and witnessed correctly to be valid. As a general rule, do not use a witness who is a beneficiary under your Will. Also avoid using the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary as a witness.

For mirror wills, partners often leave their estate to each other. That means you typically should not witness each other's Wills.

Signing Steps (Practical Checklist)

1. Get both witnesses into the room with you at the same time.
2. Sign your Will where indicated (and date it if the document provides a date line).
3. Each witness should then sign the Will in your presence. Make sure you can see them sign.
4. Each witness should print their full name, address, and occupation in the attestation section (if shown).

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Signing without both witnesses present.
• Using a witness who benefits under the Will (or their spouse/civil partner).
• Having someone sign on a different day without you present.
• Detaching pages or re-ordering pages after signing. If you need to change anything, you should not hand-edit the signed Will.

After Signing

• Store the original signed Will somewhere safe and dry.
• Tell your executors where the original is stored.
• Review your Will after major life events (for example, marriage/civil partnership, separation, divorce, children, or changes in assets).