Extending Video-Witnessed Wills for Will Writing

Here at Will Trust & Protect, we provide a high quality Will writing service directly to the public or through a network of regulated financial advisors. In addition to providing you with a professionally written Will, we will work alongside your financial advisor to ensure that your estate is arranged in the most tax efficient way possible.

It comes with a sigh of relief with the recent announcement regarding the extension to video witnessing for Will Writing.

With the pandemic showing no signs of ending anytime soon, having the option for the vulnerable or isolating to have their Wills legally recognised from the comfort of their own homes or places of care will likely prove to have a positive lasting effect.

While the pandemic has been tragic for so many of us, the steps being taken to increasingly digitise the process for Will Writing makes the steps not only for Will Writers, but Testators that much more accessible.  

Though these advancements are currently only temporary (until 31st January 2024), we may see an increase in adoption of this new method; as of 2020, the Law Society research discovered that 14% of legal professionals involved in making a Will capitalised on video-calling software. Since the beginning of learning to use Zoom in the office in the distant memory for 2020, the statistic for digital usage in this capacity is only going to have grown.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab said:

  • I want people to be able to use technology safely and securely to ensure they can record their final wishes no matter the circumstances.
  • This is a common-sense measure that will give vulnerable people peace of mind that their wills are recognised if they are forced to have them witnessed via video due to isolation.

The Society of Will Writers

To read the full article, head over to The Society of Will Writers by clicking here.

Video Witnessing

If you would like to find more information on the extension and in-depth guidance on video witnessing please follow the below useful links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/video-witnessed-wills-legalisation-extended

https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/wills/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on-making-wills-using-video-conferencing

https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/electronic-execution-of-documents/