Is the Will Builder's will legally valid?

The will builder in Legacy Planning prepares a will for India or Singapore as a PDF. This page explains, in plain words, when that will is valid and when it is not.

The short answer

The PDF is not a valid will until you print it and sign it in front of two witnesses, with all three of you present at the same time, and both witnesses sign it while you watch. A will that is unsigned, e-signed or signed without witnesses present is not valid. Nobody finds that out until after a death, when it can no longer be fixed.

Do your own checks

The will builder gives you a template, not a lawyer-reviewed will. The wording and signing steps follow the law listed below, but no lawyer has reviewed the output, and Agni Folio does not give legal advice. Like any money decision, check it yourself before you rely on it: read every page, make sure the names, shares and assets are right, and follow the signing steps exactly.

Ask a lawyer to look at it before you sign if you are unsure about anything, and always if any of these apply:

• you own property or money in more than one country
• your family situation is complicated (a second marriage, children from more than one relationship, or someone likely to dispute the will)
• you own a business, or your estate is large
• you want to leave someone out who would normally inherit

India

The will follows section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

Rule	What it means for you
You sign, two witnesses attest	Sign at the end and initial every page in front of both witnesses, all three present together. Both witnesses then sign while you watch. The PDF prints the attestation wording and the witness boxes.
It must be on paper	An electronically signed will is not valid in India (Information Technology Act, 2000, First Schedule). Print it and sign in ink.
Witnesses must not inherit	If a witness, or a witness’s husband or wife, is left something in the will, that gift is void (section 67). The rest of the will still stands. Choose witnesses who receive nothing.
Age	You must be 18 or older.
Registration	Registering the will at the sub-registrar’s office is optional. It makes the will harder to dispute.
Muslim personal law	Muslims in India follow personal law, not section 63. A bequest is limited to one-third of the estate, and a bequest to a legal heir needs the other heirs’ consent. The builder adds this note if you choose Muslim as your religion.

Singapore

The will follows the Wills Act 1838.

Rule	What it means for you
You sign, two witnesses attest	Sign at the end in front of both witnesses, all three present together. Both witnesses then sign while you watch (section 6). Anything written after your signature may not count as part of the will, so the PDF puts the asset list before the signatures.
Witnesses must not inherit	If a witness, or a witness’s husband or wife, is left something, that gift is void (section 15).
Age	You must be 21 or older (section 4).
Marriage cancels the will	Getting married after you sign cancels the will (section 13). Make a new one after marriage.
CPF and insurance	CPF savings and insurance with a nomination are not covered by a will. Update those nominations separately with CPF and your insurer.
Muslim law	Under the Administration of Muslim Law Act, a Muslim may bequeath at most one-third of the estate, and not to a legal heir, unless the heirs consent. The rest follows faraid. The builder adds this note if you choose Muslim as your religion.
Wills Registry	Lodging your will’s details with the Wills Registry is optional.

What the will builder does

• Fills in the will from the holdings you already track, so the list of assets matches what you own.
• Prints the correct attestation wording and two witness blocks for your country on one page.
• Adds an initials box and page number on every page, so a swapped or missing page is easier to spot.
• Adds a guidance page with the signing steps above. That page is not part of the will; remove it before signing.

What it does not do

• It does not make the will valid. Your signature and your two witnesses do that.
• It does not store, register or lodge the signed original. Keep the original safe and tell your executor where it is.
• It does not cover countries other than India and Singapore yet.
• It does not check that the will suits your situation. That is up to you, or a lawyer.

Related

• Wealth Legacy Planning: nominees and what they receive.
• Death Readiness Checklist: everything else your family will need.