Last Will and Testament

Legalising a Last Will and Testament is crucial for ensuring that one’s final wishes regarding the distribution of their assets are carried out after one passes away. It is an important step that anyone who wants to guarantee the fulfilment of their wishes should take.

It is crucial when dependents are left behind who rely on the deceased both physically and financially.

A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that outlines a person’s wishes for the distribution of their assets after they die. It is an essential document that ensures a person’s final wishes are carried out in a legally recognised and binding manner.

The assets can include the following:

• Property
• Money
• Personal belongings

The document names an executor who is responsible for carrying out the instructions of the will.

It also outlines who should receive specific items or amounts of the assets, as well as who should be responsible for any dependents that the person may leave behind.

Notarisation and an apostille certificate for a Last Will and Testament are required for several reasons.

To be considered legal and valid in the UK, a Will must be signed by a minimum of two witnesses. The testator (the person setting up the Will) must sign it in the presence of the witnesses who also sign the document.

This witnessing requirement serves as a safeguard against fraudulent activity, ensuring that the Will reflects the testator’s final wishes accurately. These legal requirements are in place to ensure that the Will is legally valid and can be honoured after the testator’s death. You do not need a notary or solicitor to witness a Will for it to be valid, however many individuals will choose to use a professional.

An apostille certificate is only necessary depending on the country in which the Will is being executed or probated. The document may be required by overseas authorities to see that it is government-legalised.

Notary.co.uk can assist you with our fast and cost-effective services while walking you through every step of the process:

1. Firstly you will need to complete our Client Registration Form to register as a client.
2. After completing the form, we will be able to assist you with notarising the document to certify that the testator and witnesses signed the document voluntarily.
3. We will then have the document certified and apostilled at either of the available FCDO locations.
4. Once this has been completed, we will share a PDF scan of the apostilled document and return the document to you.

To obtain an apostille, you must submit your Last Will and Testament to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Legalisation Office (FCDO).

There are two Legalisation Office counters in London (Premium Service) and Milton Keynes (Standard Service). We offer a premium same-day apostille service for urgent matters and a standard 3-5 working day apostille service if you are not in a rush.

For certain countries, you may also need Consular Legalisation after the Will has been apostilled. Our experienced team can advise if this is needed and help you through the process.