Do witness signatures on separate copies make the will valid?

Question

My mother signed one printed copy of her will while the first witness watched, but the second witness later signed a different printout of the same document. The pages are identical, yet there is no single original carrying all three signatures. Does a court usually require the testator and witnesses to sign the same physical document?

Soradin · Accepted Answer

Signing separate counterparts can create a serious execution problem because will statutes often expect the required signatures to appear on one instrument. For witnesses signing separate copies, the court will focus on the governing execution statute and reliable evidence about what happened at signing. Keep the original document unchanged because witness statements, drafting records, and the physical paper may matter. A probate attorney on Soradin can review the signed copies, the sequence of events, and the execution rules that applied.

Do witness signatures on separate copies make the will valid?

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