Will Requirements

In Illinois, a Will must be signed and witnessed with the following legal formalities; to be valid:

• The testator must be 18 years of age and of sound mind and memory.
• The Will must be in writing.
• The Will must be signed by the testator (or some other person on behalf of the testator in his or her presence and at his or her direction).
• The Will must be attested in the presence of the testator by two or more credible witnesses who must also watch each other sign the Will. If a witness is also a legatee, then the gift to that legatee is limited to the amount he or she would have received had there been no will (under the laws of intestacy).