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🏴️ Northern Ireland

How to sign your will in Northern Ireland

The signing requirements in Northern Ireland are very similar to those in England and Wales — two witnesses are required, all present at the same time. Here is exactly what you need to do.

Governed by the Wills Act 1837 as it applies in Northern Ireland

Key rules

Two independent witnesses required — both present at the same time
Witnesses must be aged 18 or over and have mental capacity
Witnesses must not be beneficiaries of your will, or married to a beneficiary

All three of you must sign in each other’s presence simultaneously

Witnesses should record their full name and address alongside their signature

Signing a will in Northern Ireland

The requirements for signing a will in Northern Ireland are governed by the Wills Act 1837 as it applies in Northern Ireland, and are very similar to those in England and Wales. You will need two witnesses, all of whom must be present together at the same time when the will is signed.

A will that is not signed and witnessed correctly in Northern Ireland has no legal validity and cannot be used. Your estate would be distributed under the rules of intestacy — which may bear no resemblance to your wishes.

Important: We include clear, step-by-step signing instructions with every will we produce. Please read them carefully before you begin.

Who can witness your will in Northern Ireland

Your witnesses must be:



Aged 18 or over

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Of sound mind — able to understand what they are witnessing

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Not a beneficiary of your will

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Not married to, or in a civil partnership with, a beneficiary of your will

If a beneficiary witnesses your will, their gift becomes void — even though the rest of the will may remain valid. Always choose witnesses who have no connection to anyone named in your will.

Good choices: neighbours, colleagues, or friends who are not named in your will. Your witnesses do not need to read or know the contents of your will — they are only witnessing your signature.

Can my spouse witness my will?

Only if they are not a beneficiary. If your spouse or civil partner is named in your will to inherit anything, they must not act as a witness. Choose two other independent people instead.

Step-by-step signing guide

Follow these steps in order. Do not sign the will before your witnesses are present with you.

1

Choose two independent witnesses

Both must be 18 or over and must not be beneficiaries of your will. Ask them in advance and make sure they are available to be with you in person.

2

Arrange for all three of you to be present together

You and both witnesses must be in the same room at the same time. This is a legal requirement — it cannot be done remotely or at different times.

3

Read through your will before signing

Confirm the will correctly records your wishes before anyone signs. Any changes must be made before signing — not after.

4

Sign your will in the presence of both witnesses

Sign in the space provided, as indicated in the signing instructions that come with your will. Both witnesses must watch you sign.

5

Both witnesses sign in your presence

Each witness then signs in the space provided, in your presence and in each other’s presence. All three signatures happen at the same time, in the same room.

6

Witnesses add their full name and address

Each witness should clearly record their full name and address alongside their signature. This is important if the will is ever questioned.

Common mistakes to avoid

Signing before your witnesses arrive— you must sign in their presence. Do not sign the will in advance

Witnesses signing at different times— all three signatures must happen simultaneously in the same room

Using a beneficiary as a witness— their gift becomes void, even if the will itself remains valid

Signing in the wrong place— follow the specific signing instructions included with your will carefully

Altering the will after signing— any changes made after signing are not valid unless separately initialled by you and both witnesses at the same time

After signing — storing your will safely

Once correctly signed and witnessed, your will is legally valid. The next step is making sure it is stored somewhere safe — and that your executor knows exactly where to find it. A will that cannot be located when it is needed cannot be acted upon.

Your options for storage include:

Store it with The Will Place— if you have added our storage and amendments package, we will have sent you separate instructions on how to return your signed will to us. If you haven’t yet added this, you can do so from within your account.

A fireproof safe or lockbox at home

With your solicitor for safekeeping

Registered with the Scottish Will Register

Whatever you choose, make sure your executor knows where the original is. The original signed document is what matters — a photocopy is not sufficient.

The Will Place — Storage & Amendments

Store your will with us and make unlimited changes — £19.99 per year.

If you haven’t already added our storage and amendments package, you can do so from within your account. For £19.99 per year we will store your signed will securely and allow you to make unlimited amendments to it whenever your circumstances change.

If you have already purchased the package, we will have sent you separate instructions on how to return your signed will to us for safekeeping.

Add to my account →

Updating your will

If you need to make changes after signing, do not write on or alter the original will. You have two options:

Return to your account and make changes— if you have our storage and amendments package (£19.99 per year), you can make unlimited amendments through your account at any time. We will produce an updated will for you to sign and return.

Make a completely new will— this automatically revokes the previous one and is usually the right approach for significant changes if you do not have the amendments package.

Do not write on or cross out sections of your signed will — this does not create a valid change and may cast doubt on the validity of the whole document.

Frequently asked questions

Are the rules in Northern Ireland the same as England and Wales?

Very similar. Both are governed by the Wills Act 1837 as it applies in each jurisdiction, and the practical requirements — two witnesses, all present simultaneously, no beneficiary witnesses — are the same in both jurisdictions.

Does getting married in Northern Ireland affect my will?

Yes. As in England and Wales, marriage in Northern Ireland automatically revokes any will made before the marriage. If you have recently married, you need to make a new will.

Does my will need to be registered in Northern Ireland?

There is no legal requirement to register a will in Northern Ireland, but it is good practice to store it safely and to let your executor know where to find it. Some people choose to store their will with a solicitor or a professional will storage service

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