What are the requirements for a valid will?

In Washington, a valid will must meet certain requirements in order to be legally enforced. The person making the will (testator) must be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind when the will is executed. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed and signed by two disinterested witnesses. The witnesses cannot be the spouse of the testator, and all three parties must sign the will in the presence of each other. In addition, Washington requires wills to be signed in the presence of a notary public. The testator must also exercise testamentary intent when signing the will. This means that the testator must be aware of the nature and consequences of signing the will. The testator must also be able to identify a particular purpose for signing the will. The will must be for the benefit of others and not for the testator’s own benefit. Finally, the will must be executed in accordance with the laws of Washington. Any will that does not comply with the requirements set forth by the state of Washington is not valid and cannot be enforced by the court. It is important to ensure that all of the requirements for a valid will are met before filing a copy of the will with the court. An experienced attorney can assist with drafting and executing a valid will in accordance with Washington law.

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