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

In Virginia, the witness and signing of a will must follow certain requirements to be considered valid. In order for a will to be witnessed and signed, two witnesses must be present at the same time and must watch the person making the will sign it. The witnesses must also sign the will. According to Virginia law, these two witnesses must not be people who are named as beneficiaries in the will. The two witnesses must also be disinterested parties, that is to say, they should not receive anything from the will. Additionally, the person making the will should be of sound mind and have knowledge of the contents of the will when signing it. Furthermore, the will must be written, printed, or typewritten. Handwritten wills are not accepted in Virginia unless they have been notarized. For the will to be valid, it must also be signed by the maker and the witnesses on the same page, and Virginia law requires that the signature of each signatory be written beneath or across from his or her name. When this is done, the will should be stored in a secure place such as a safe deposit box or a secure filing cabinet. Lastly, a will should be signed in the presence of at least two people and all signatures must be dated. Following these requirements will ensure that the will is valid in Virginia.

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