Validity of Wills

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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): For Wills made on or after 31 January 2020, the formal requirement for a valid Will to be witnessed in the presence of two witnesses includes both physical and virtual presence, to allow Wills to be validly witnessed remotely by way of video conference. For the latest guidance on this temporary change (which takes effect for Wills made up to and including 31 January 2024), see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Wills. This change is introduced by the Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Order 2020, SI 2020/952 which amends Wills Act 1837 (WA 1837), s 9 and the Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order 2022, SI 2022/18. Note that the guidance below relates to WA 1837 in its unchanged form. For details of the new rules and the changes to WA 1837, s 9, see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—remote witnessing of Wills.The WA 1837Amendment Order,  SI 2020/952 was expressed to apply to Wills and codicils made between 31 January 2020 and 31 January 2022, subject to the possibility of further extension. From 1 February 2022, the Wills Act 1837 (Electronic

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