The Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Signing Their Will

Mistakes when signing your Will

Writing a Will is one of the most important things you’ll ever do – but making sure it’s signed and witnessed correctly is just as vital. Even the best-written Will is useless if it hasn’t been executed properly.

Sadly, many people make small but costly mistakes when signing their Will. These can cause delays, disputes, or even leave your Will invalid. Here are the top five pitfalls to avoid:

1. Choosing the Wrong Witnesses

   Your Will must be signed in front of two independent witnesses who are present at the same time. If a beneficiary (or their spouse/civil partner) acts as a witness, their inheritance is cancelled.

   👉 Example: If your son signs as a witness and he’s due to inherit, that gift will legally fail.

2. Not Signing Every Page

   While the law only requires the signature at the end, best practice is for the testator and both witnesses to initial every page. This prevents pages being swapped or challenged later.

   👉 Example: A missing signature or initials can open the door to arguments about whether the Will was altered.

3. Forgetting to Date the Will

   Without a date, it can be difficult to prove that your Will is the latest version. This can cause confusion if there are earlier Wills.

   👉 Example: If two undated Wills are found, your executors may face a court dispute to determine which one applies.

4. Not Signing in the Right Order

   All three people – you and your two witnesses – must be present together. You must sign first, then the witnesses sign in your presence (and each other’s). If this process isn’t followed exactly, the Will could be deemed invalid.

   👉 Example: Posting your Will to someone else to “witness later” is not valid.

5. Storing the Will Incorrectly

   Even after it’s signed, mistakes happen if the original Will is lost, damaged, or accidentally destroyed. Photocopies or scans rarely stand up in court.

   👉 Example: If your Will is kept at home and goes missing after death, the law assumes you destroyed it intentionally – even if that isn’t true.

   
   

   How to Get It Right

   At Newlife Wills, we don’t just draft your Will – we guide you through the signing and witnessing process step-by-step, so you know it’s legally binding. We can even store the original for you securely, protecting your wishes long after you’re gone.

   
   

   📞 Contact us today on 01843 269165 to arrange your Will signing properly – and give yourself (and your family) the peace of mind that everything is done correctly.