June 2020

Wills in the time of COVID-19

The current COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased interest in succession planning including through wills. However, there are considerable practical and legal challenges to consider when making a will while social distancing, isolation or quarantine measures are in place.

Following are some measures that may guide the testator while preparing his/her WILL during this pandemic:

• Seek professional consultation while drafting your WILL either via call/email or zoom meeting to avoid confusion.
• The WILL must be signed by the testator and by two witnesses to make it a valid WILL.
• Registration of WILLs is not compulsory.
• WILLs need not be in English.
• Handwritten WILLs are recognised by the law. However, to ensure legible handwriting and to avoid spelling errors.
• Doctor's certificate may be taken and attached to the WILL.

We, at GBCA, would be happy to assist you with an end to end solution while drafting your WILL.