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How to Execute Your Will: Signing and Witnessing Explained

Published 17 September 2026 · 5 min read

Creating your Will is essential to your estate planning, but making sure it is properly executed matters just as much. A Will that has been correctly drafted can still cause problems if it is not signed and witnessed correctly. This guide explains how to execute your Will in England and Wales.

What is executing a Will?

The term ‘execution’ of a Will refers to the process of formally signing and witnessing it in accordance with the law, so that it can take effect when you die. The process is simple, but there is a correct way to go about it to make sure your Will is properly executed.

Before you sign

Once the drafting of your Will is complete, and before you execute it, it is worth reviewing the document carefully to make sure it is free from error and reflects your intentions. Common issues to look out for are the misspelling of names or addresses. Once you are satisfied the Will is in order, you can proceed with execution.

Errors in your Will

Errors in drafting can happen. When you write a Will with Willow Online Wills, we include a 24-hour free modification period after finalisation, so you can make corrections and re-finalise. This matters because some online Will providers do not offer the same flexibility, which can mean costly and time-consuming redrafting instead.

Where a minor error is present, such as the misspelling of a name or address, it is legally acceptable to rule a neat line through the incorrect wording and write the correct spelling alongside it. The Testator and witnesses should then initial the correction to confirm it has been acknowledged by everyone and is intended to be valid.

If a more serious error is present, for example an entire clause included by mistake, it cannot be corrected in the same way, and the Will itself will need to be amended. This is exactly why we include the 24-hour modification period, and why we recommend reviewing your Will as soon as possible after finalising it.

What you need to do

As the Testator, your own signature is required for the Will to be valid. You will also need to date the Will and choose two independent witnesses to sign it and add their details.

Choosing your witnesses

Ideally, your witnesses should be people who are not beneficiaries of your Will. An Executor can witness your Will provided they are not also a beneficiary, but it is best practice to choose witnesses who are not named in the Will at all, and who are not related to anyone who is.

If a beneficiary, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary, witnesses the Will, it does not necessarily invalidate the whole document, but the gift to that beneficiary is forfeited. It is far safer to choose two completely independent witnesses. Friends, colleagues or neighbours all work well.

How to sign your Will

The simplest way to execute your Will is as follows.

Sign and date your Will

Sign your Will in the space provided for your signature, which will be marked with your name and/or reference the signature of the ‘Testator’. Your Will should also be dated in the space provided.

Ideally you would do this in the presence of your two witnesses, though it does not strictly need to be signed in front of them. You can, for example, sign independently and then acknowledge your signature to your witnesses afterwards.

Your witnesses sign

Once you have signed, each witness should sign the Will in the appropriate witness section and complete their own details. You must be able to see each witness sign.

The two witnesses do not have to sign in each other’s presence, although having both sign together is the simplest approach in practice. Each witness should also provide their full name and address wherever the Will provides space for these details.

Your Will is only properly executed once all of the required signatures and witnessing have taken place.

What if I make a mistake?

If an error is made while signing, we recommend re-printing your document and beginning the process again, rather than trying to correct it, to avoid any difficulty administering your estate later.

Keep your original Will safe

Once your Will has been correctly signed and witnessed, keep the original document somewhere safe and accessible, and tell your Executor(s) where to find it. They will need the original Will, not a copy, when it comes to administering your estate.

A final checklist

Before you consider your Will complete, make sure:

• The Will reflects your wishes.
• You have two witnesses aged 18 or over.
• Neither witness is a beneficiary, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary.
• Both witnesses are present when you sign or acknowledge your signature.
• You are present when each witness signs.
• You and both witnesses have signed in the appropriate places.
• Your Will is dated.
• The witnesses have completed their details where required.
• The original signed Will has been stored safely.

That’s it. Executing a Will correctly does not need to be complicated — the important thing is to follow the signing and witnessing process carefully.

Common questions about executing your Will

Setting this up with Willow

When you write your Will with Willow, we give you full, plain-English signing and witnessing instructions printed alongside your Will, plus a 24-hour free modification period after you finalise, so you can catch and correct any error before it matters.

This guide sets out general information about executing a Will in England and Wales. It is not legal advice, and if you are unsure whether a specific signature or witnessing arrangement is valid, you should seek professional guidance.