Who can witness a will in England and Wales?
Links marked * are commercial or go to our partner sites, which share our operator. Third-party companies may pay us commission. How we make money.
In short: For an England and Wales will, arrange two independent adult witnesses. Both must see you sign the same document, then each signs while you can see them. Avoid beneficiaries and their spouses or civil partners, whose gifts can be put at risk. Scotland and Northern Ireland need their own guidance.
Content updated:
Follow the GOV.UK signing and witnessing rules. Both witnesses should have a clear view of your signature; when they sign, you must have a clear view. They do not have to sign at the same time as one another.
Choose people who are not beneficiaries or married/civil partners of beneficiaries. Do not assume witnessing an incorrectly executed document will fix it. If you cannot follow the standard signing process, get advice from a solicitor.
For a straightforward England and Wales will, SwiftWill’s signing guidance* can help you prepare. SwiftWill is a related commercial service with automated document preparation, not individual solicitor review. Use jurisdiction-appropriate advice for Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Primary source: www.gov.uk/make-will/make-sure-your-will-is-legal
Part of our Family & care
This quick answer sits inside our wider family & care hub — with sub-guides, calculators and step-by-step explainers on the same topic.
Read the full family & care guide →