Wills during the pandemic

The Epidemic Preparedness (Wills Act 2007—Signing and Witnessing of Wills) Immediate Modification Order 2020 (the Order), is a temporary order that was made under the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006. The Order came into force on 17 April 2020 and will be revoked when the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 expires or is revoked. The Order modifies the witnessing requirements of section 11 of the Wills Act 2007 that may be impossible or impracticable to comply with during an epidemic.

The effect of the Order is that a will can be made during the pandemic even where a person does not have two suitable witnesses in their bubble and allows for audiovisual links from 1 or more places to meet the witnessing requirements.

References:

• Epidemic Preparedness (Wills Act 2007—Signing and Witnessing of Wills) Immediate Modification Order 2020