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Legal Requirements of a Will

This is what has to be remembered about the law: beneath that cold, harsh, impersonal exterior there beats a cold, harsh, impersonal heart. - David Antony Frost Jay

The legal requirements of a will are the result of hundreds of years of law making. Most of these legal requirements are embodied today in your state's statutory laws. Many of the requirements are the product of repeated trial and error that has withstood the test of time and (more importantly) numerous court battles.

Although wills may vary from state to state, they all have the following basic legal requirements in common:

Keeping the above facts in mind, you should go with the flow and follow the will making process to the letter of the law. Bucking the system opens the door to a will contest and can result in a portion or all of the will being declared invalid. On the other hand, there is a great deal of security in knowing that there can be no problem with your will as long as you follow the rules.

For more background on the legal requirements of a will, consult the following sections:


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