What is a valid Will in Florida?
First, the Court will usually only accept the original of a decedent’s Will, in order to ensure its validity. An authenticated copy of a Will can be admitted to probate, but can be a lengthy process, and the copy is not guaranteed to be accepted. It must always contain the signature of the decedent and two (2) attesting witnesses. The attesting witnesses must sign the Will in the presence of the decedent and in the presence of each other (FS 732.502 tells the Florida rules on Execution of Wills).
Estate planning is not an area to go at it alone. If you have questions about creating your own will, or about the will of a relative or loved one, contact us today.