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What happens if one or all of the witnesses to my Will die before me?

If a witness to your Will dies before you, your Will is still valid.

Updated over 2 weeks ago

If someone who witnessed your Will passes away before you do, you may wonder whether your Will is still valid. The good news is that your Will generally remains valid as long as it was properly signed and witnessed at the time of execution.

Is My Will Still Valid If a Witness Dies?

Yes. In most cases, a Will that was validly executed—with the correct number of qualified witnesses present—remains valid even if one or all of those witnesses are no longer living when you pass away.

The witness's role is to confirm:

  • That you signed the Will voluntarily

  • That you appeared to be of sound mind at the time

Once the Will is signed and properly witnessed, it does not become invalid just because a witness later passes away.

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