The court must contact the two witnesses to “prove” the will if the signatures are not notarized. Wills need not be notarized in North Carolina, but having your and your witnesses’ signatures notarized will make the probate process faster and easier. You must sign the will in front of these two witnesses, and they must sign in front of you. The witnesses must also be competent, and must be disinterested parties, meaning that they will not benefit from the will. In addition to the testator being of age and of sound mind, the will must be signed by two witnesses. Are There Other Requirements for a Will to Be Valid in NC? Such an oral will must be spoken in front of two competent witnesses whom you have specifically asked to be witnesses, and the oral will can only dispose of personal property. North Carolina does allow oral wills if the testator is deemed to be in their final illness or in imminent peril of death. Your will cannot be audio, video, or any other digital file. In our state, there must be a hard copy of the will, on paper, signed by the testator and two witnesses. While some states are beginning to accept electronic documents as valid wills, North Carolina is not one of them. With the rising numbers of Americans falling ill with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to ensure that a will is created before a victim of these or other diseases becomes unable to understand these basic ideas. Being “of sound mind” means that the testator has a clear understanding of what possessions they own, what the relationship is between them and the people receiving those possessions, and what the effect of the last will and testament will be. Any will that is created under duress or that is created when the testator (the person the will is for) is not cognitively capable of understanding what they are creating or signing will not be valid in North Carolina. Can Anyone Create a Will?Īnyone can create a will in North Carolina as long as they are at least 18 years of age and of sound mind at the time the will is created. Read on to learn more about the requirements for creating a will that will stand the test of time in North Carolina. Creating a will is a detailed and serious process, and you definitely want to be sure the will you create is valid and will be recognized in the state of North Carolina. Your will outlines your wishes for what should happen to your property and assets after you die, and it can be an important tool in making sure that your family is taken care of when you are no longer able to care for them. Creating a last will and testament is a very important part of the estate planning process.
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