Who may act as a witness to a will?

The ability to act as a witness to a will is determined by the legal standards set forth in estate law, which generally requires that witnesses be competent individuals. Competency typically means that the person must have the mental capacity to understand what they are witnessing and be able to affirm that they saw the testator (the person creating the will) sign the document.

Anyone who meets this standard, regardless of their relationship to the testator or their professional status, can testify as a witness. Therefore, witnesses can be friends, acquaintances, or even strangers, as long as they meet the criteria for competency. This approach ensures that the will is properly executed and can be upheld in a court of law.

While it is generally advisable for witnesses to have no vested interest in the will to ensure that their testimony is unbiased, this is not a strict legal requirement in every jurisdiction. Some states do allow interested parties to serve as witnesses, although doing so can complicate matters should the will be contested. Hence, stating that anyone generally competent can act as a witness captures the essence of the legal requirement without imposing unnecessary restrictions.