A recent survey conducted by YouGov has uncovered a concerning lack of awareness among the UK public regarding what constitutes a valid will.
The poll of 2,000 individuals highlights significant misconceptions about the legal requirements for a will to be recognised under UK law – with only half (48%) being unaware that to be valid, the will must be signed and that signature must be witnessed by two non-beneficiaries.
Despite advancements in technology and concerns about cybersecurity and deepfakes, around 20% of 18-24-year-olds incorrectly think that a video message would constitute a valid will, while half of that proportion think audio and text messages suffice.
Overall, when other age groups are considered, options such as video and audio messages scored lower, but still higher than email.
Requirements for a valid will.
A valid will under UK law must meet specific legal requirements to be recognised.
• It must be in writing, either printed or handwritten
• It must be signed and dated by the person making the will.
• It must be witnessed by two non-beneficiaries, meaning two individuals who are not named as beneficiaries in the will must be present to witness the signing.
• The person making the will must also have the required mental capacity to do so and must make the will voluntarily, without any undue influence.
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