Is a will written on ordinary writing paper , in non legal jargon but still witnessed by 2 people legal?
Answers:
In England and Wales, yes it is, if it complies with the basic requirements for a will, particularly as to witnessing.
The "signature clause should read "Signed by [full name] as her last will in our presence, and then by us in her presence". You sign in the presence of your two (adult) witnesses, neither of whom should be a person who could under any circumstances benefit under your will, and then (while the three of you stay together) they should add their signatures under yours, and write their full names and addresses.
Make sure you insert the date on which the will was signed.
Be warned, though - before I retired as a solicitor, I made a lot of money sorting out home-made wills.
yes
no.
I don't think so, no... but if that's all they had to go on hopefully your family would take it into consideration when deciding "who gets what".
depends on the state after my husbands grandma died there was no will to be found anywhere but the lawyer handling the estate said that if we could find anything she had written expressing her wishes for the disbursal of her property then it would be legal and binding even if not witnessed at all
Yes and No. I win!
It would depend on how clear, concise, and accurate the writing was (i.e., written so that it will stand up to scrutiny as a legal contract), and also whether or not the will needed to be notarized in your state.
Only if the state it is written in only requires 2 witnesses, and only if the testator (person writing the will) is competent: knows what a will does and intends the writing to be his/her will.
I once saw a will that had been written on a napkin. Held up in the probate hearing too.
I had this situation come up a few years ago. My grandfather kept a journal in which he often changed his mind about his will. When he passed away his journal superseded his will, as the judge put it " it is obvious what the man wanted."
My experience is that anything is better than nothing in these matters.
Yes.
Yes! Absolutely!
yes anything written will be used as evidence of a will
as long as you can prove it was made by the benefactor
not sure but there only £2:50 from the post office i saw them the other day
i suggest you ask a lawyer. it may also depend on the state you reside in?
but to answer your question I don't know.
In the UK yes it is. But it's very dangerous to assume that your wishes will be met. The 'legal jargon' protects you.
Yes providing the person who wrote the will is in sound mind, and that the two witnesses are totally independent and are not named to inherit anything. It's also better if you take it and register it with a solicitor, you do not have to alter it , just get it legally registered.
Is this for someone who died recently?
If so, it is better than nothing as evidence of the wishes of the deceased.
If you are asking about somone who is still living my recommendation is to contact an attorney and have a will drawn.
yes.
i believe the shortest will ever written was "all to wife". i was written on the wall of this guys house, as he was dying of a heart attack. since there was no doubt that this guy had written it of his own free will, and had not been written by somebody else, if was legal, and everything he owned went to his wife. neat huh?
Yes
It is in scotland but as far as i am aware, not in england, unless the rules have changed in he last couple of years.
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