Currently , the law states that a will must be witnessed in the presence of at least two witnesses.
The Government has announced that it will introduce new laws which will allow wills to be witnessed by video link , such as Zoom or Facetime.
The reforms will be backdated to 31st January 2020 and will remain until 31st January 2022 or as long as necessary .
The Government has reassured the public that wills witnessed in such a way will be deemed to be legal , as long as the quality of the sound and video is sufficient to see and hear what is happening at the time. The Government has also issued guidance as to how the will should be witnessed .
However, the use of video technology should be regarded as a last resort and people should arrange physical witnessing of wills where it is safe to do so .
There has been a cautious welcome by lawyers to the proposals . whilst it will allow wills to be drawn up efficiently and safely , it is important to ensure the correct formalities are observed , otherwise the will will be invalid .
if you require any further information please contact John Buckle on 01922 707 598 or johnbuckle@hcbgroup.com
