Anyone aged 18 or over who is not a beneficiary can witness your will in Ireland. Both witnesses must be present at the same time, see you sign, and sign the will themselves. Friends, neighbours and colleagues are common choices.
Signing your will is a simple moment, but it has to be done the right way.
What the law asks for
You need two witnesses when you sign. Each witness must:
be 18 or over
be there at the same time as the other witness
see you sign
sign the will themselves
Who should not witness
A witness should not receive a gift in your will. If they do, that gift can be treated as invalid. The same risk can apply to the spouse of someone receiving a gift.
Good choices for witnesses
a friend
a neighbour
a colleague
a professional you trust, like an accountant
What witnesses are really doing
They're simply confirming the signing happened properly. They are not taking on responsibility for your will.
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