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🏴️ England & Wales

How to sign your will in England and Wales

Wills in England and Wales must be signed and witnessed in a very specific way. A will that doesn’t meet these requirements has no legal validity — here is exactly what to do.

Governed by the Wills Act 1837 · England and Wales only

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

Why correct signing matters

In England and Wales, a will is only legally valid if it has been signed and witnessed in the way set out in the Wills Act 1837. Even a will that perfectly expresses your wishes will have no legal effect if the signing process is not carried out correctly.

This means your estate would be distributed as if you had made no will at all — under the government’s rules of intestacy — regardless of what your document says.

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

Who can witness your will

Choosing the right witnesses is essential. In England and Wales, a witness must be:



Aged 18 or over



Of sound mind — able to understand what they are witnessing



Not a beneficiary of your will



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

If a beneficiary acts as a witness, their gift under the will becomes void — even if the rest of the will remains valid. Avoid this entirely by choosing witnesses who have no connection to anyone named in your will.

Good choices for witnesses: neighbours, colleagues, friends who are not named in the will, or any other independent adult who is happy to help. Your witnesses do not need to read your will or know what is in it.

Can my spouse or partner be a witness?

Only if they are not also a beneficiary. If your spouse or civil partner is named in your will to inherit anything, they must not witness it. Choose someone else.

Step-by-step signing guide

Follow these steps in order. Do not sign the will before your witnesses arrive.

1

Choose two independent witnesses

Both must be 18 or over and must not be beneficiaries of your will or connected to anyone who is. Ask them before the day — make sure they know what is involved.

2

Arrange for all three of you to be present together

You, the person making the will, and both witnesses must all be in the same room at the same time. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement.

3

Check the will before anyone signs

Read through your will to confirm it correctly records your wishes. If anything needs changing, do it before signing — not after.

4

Sign your will in the presence of both witnesses

Sign in the space provided — the signing instructions included with your will tell you exactly where. 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 print their full name and address clearly alongside their signature. This makes it easier to contact them if the will is ever questioned.

Common mistakes to avoid

Signing before your witnesses arrive— invalid. You must sign in their presence

Witnesses signing at different times— even on the same day, this is not valid. All three must sign simultaneously in each other’s presence

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

Signing in the wrong placefollow the signing instructions provided with your will

Altering the will after signing— any alterations to a will after it has been signed 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

What if one of my witnesses is abroad?

All witnesses must be physically present in the same room as you when you sign. A witness who is abroad — or participating via video call — cannot legally witness your will under English and Welsh law. Choose witnesses who can be with you in person.

Does the will need to be notarised?

No. A will in England and Wales does not need to be notarised. Correct signing and witnessing as described above is all that is legally required.

Can I use the same witness for a future will?

Yes — there is no restriction on using the same witnesses for a future will, provided they still meet the requirements at the time of signing.

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