What is required for a will to be witnessed and signed?

In Maryland, wills must be witnessed and signed in order for them to be valid. This means that two people must witness the person who wrote the will (the "testator") signing the will and also sign the document themselves. The witnesses must be two or more adults who are not named in the will, and they must be present when the testator signs the will. The witnesses must see the testator sign the will with their own eyes, and they must be aware that the testator is executing their will. It is also best for the witnesses to understand the nature and contents of the will. The witnesses must also sign the will in the presence of the testator and each other. It is important that all signatures are placed on the same page, either at the end of the will or near the signature of the testator. It is also recommended that the testator sign the will in the presence of a notary public who can notarize the signatures. This provides additional validity to the will, as the notary public will serve as a neutral third-party witness. Not all states have the same requirements for executing a will, so it is important to check the specific laws of the state in which the will is being signed. Wills are a legally binding document and must be handled with the utmost care.

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