Validity of Wills

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): For Wills made on or after 31 January 2020, the formal��requirement��for a��valid��Will��to be witnessed in the presence of two witnesses includes both physical and virtual presence, to allow��Wills��to be validly witnessed remotely by way of video conference.��For the latest guidance on this temporary change (which takes effect for Wills made up to and including 31 January 2024), see Practice Note:��Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Wills. This change is introduced by the Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Order 2020, SI 2020/952 which amends Wills Act 1837 (WA 1837), s 9 and the Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order 2022, SI 2022/18. Note that the guidance below relates to WA 1837 in its unchanged form. For details of the new rules and the changes to WA 1837, s 9, see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—remote witnessing of Wills.The��WA 1837Amendment Order,����SI 2020/952��was expressed to apply to Wills and codicils made between 31 January 2020 and 31 January 2022, subject to the possibility of further extension. From 1 February 2022, the��Wills Act 1837��(Electronic

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