Watchtower/Law library/Wills Act 1837
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legislation

Wills Act 1837

Wills Act 1837 prescribes formal execution and witness presence requirements under s. 9 and governs revocation under s. 20, binding testators and attesting witnesses.

40 provisions in 1 parts · official text ↗

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impact by vertical

Summary

What this law does

Governs the formal execution, attestation, revocation, alteration, and construction of wills and testamentary dispositions in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Why it matters to Signicat and its customers

No Signicat-specific relevance narrative is stored for this instrument; the stored applicability is shown below.

Who is bound: testator; witness; witnesses

Services
Legal practitioners and estate professionals must comply with formal execution, witnessing, and revocation rules when drafting and executing testamentary instruments.

Key obligations each linked to the provision it comes from

Part summaries

0 of 0 parts have a verified summary.

L1 unavailable for current verification: the overall summary needs every part verified. Provisions and the verified summaries remain readable.

Verification findings (43)

synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 main

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-1

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-2

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-3

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-46

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-7

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-8

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-9

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-10

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-11

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-12

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-13

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-14

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-15

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-16

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-17

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18A

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18B

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18C

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18D

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18E

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-19

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-20

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-21

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-22

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-23

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-24

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-25

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-26

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-27

synthesis coverage: missing/unverified L2 main

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-28

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-29

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-30

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-31

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-32

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-33

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-33A

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-34

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-35

synthesis coverage: missing evaluation uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-36

Instrument tier unavailable

Change history as published

S. 2 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1874 (c. 35)

Ss. 4–6, 8 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), Sch. Pt. III · repeated 2×

S. 12 repealed by Admiralty, &c. Acts Repeal Act 1865 (c. 112), Sch.

S. 32 repealed (1.1.1997) by 1996 c.47, s. 25(2), Sch. 4 (with ss. 24(2),25(4)); S.I. 1996/2974, art. 2

S. 36 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1874 (c. 35)

Pending effects amendments not yet applied to this text

s. 18A(1) amended (EW) (prosp.) by Family Law Act 1996 s. 66(1) Sch. 8 Pt. 1 para. 1 · Effective date unknown · s. 18A

Full TOC · table of contents Collapse parts

1 parts · 40 provisions. Open a provision for its text and, where available, its one-line summary.

· 40 provisions
1 Meaning of certain words in this Act: “Will”: “Real estate”: “Personal estate”: Number: Gender. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-1
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-2
3 All property may be disposed of by will; Contingent Interests; Rights of Entry; and property acquired after the execution of the will. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-3
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-46
7 No will of a person under age valid. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-7
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-8
9 Signing and attestation of wills uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-9
10 Appointments by will to be executed like other wills, and to be valid, although other required solemnities are not observed. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-10
11 Soldiers and mariners wills excepted. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-11
12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-12
13 Publication of will not be requisite. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-13
14 Will not to be void on account of incompetency of attesting witness. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-14
15 Gifts to an attesting witness to be void. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-15
16 Creditor attesting to be admitted a witness. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-16
17 Executor shall be admitted a witness. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-17
18 Wills to be revoked by marriage, except in certain cases. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18
18A Effect of dissolution or annulment of marriage on wills. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18A
18B Will to be revoked by civil partnership uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18B
18C Effect of dissolution or annulment of civil partnership on wills uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18C
18D Effect on subsisting will of conversion of civil partnership into marriage uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18D
18E Effect on subsisting will of conversion of marriage into civil partnership uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-18E
19 No will to be revoked by presumption. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-19
20 No will to be revoked but by another will or codicil, or by a writing executed like a will, or by destruction. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-20
21 No alteration in a will shall have any effect unless executed as a will. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-21
22 No will revoked to be revived otherwise than by Re-execution or a Codicil to revive it. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-22
23 A devise not to be rendered inoperative by any subsequent conveyance or act. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-23
24 A will shall be construed to speak from the death of the testator. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-24
25 Residuary devise shall include estates comprised in lapsed and void devises. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-25
26 A general devise of the testator’s lands shall include copyhold and leasehold as well as freehold lands. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-26
27 A general gift shall include estates over which the testator has a general power of appointment. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-27
28 A devise without any words of limitation shall be construed to pass as free. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-28
29 The words “die without issue,” or “die without leaving issue,” shall be construed to mean die without issue living at the death. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-29
30 No devise to trustees or executors, except for a term or a presentation to a church, shall pass a chattel interest. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-30
31 Trustees under an unlimited devise, where the trust may endure beyond the life of a person beneficially entitled for life, shall take the fee. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-31
32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-32
33 Gifts to children or other issue who leave issue living at the testator’s death shall not lapse. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-33
33A Disclaimer or forfeiture of gift uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-33A
34 Act not to extend to wills made before 1838, nor to estates pur autre vie of persons who die before 1838. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-34
35 Act not to extend to Scotland. uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-35
36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26#section-36

Impact profile

Transportation
0
Banking finance
0
Public sector health
0
Energy, utilities & telco
0
Insurance pensions
0
Services
2
Media entertainment
0
Manufacturing construction
0
Commerce
0

Dimensions

Mechanism strength
2
Signicat obligation
0
Urgency
Pending

Penalties

not supplied

Definitions

will
“shall extend to a testament, and to a codicil, and to an appointment by will or by writing in the nature of a will in exercise of a power, and also to an appointment by will of a guardian of a child”
s. 1
real estate
“shall extend to manors, advowsons, messuages, lands, tithes, rents, and hereditaments, . . . whether corporeal, incorporeal, or personal, and to any undivided share thereof, and to any estate, right, or interest (other than a chattel interest) therein”
s. 1
personal estate
“shall extend to leasehold estates and other chattels real, and also to monies, shares of government and other funds, securities for money (not being real estates), debts, choses in action, rights, credits, goods, and all other property whatsoever”
s. 1

References

uk:ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26