Having just moved, I don’t have any family or nearby friends I can ask. Any ideas on how I would get a will witnessed? Or would I just have to wait until I’m visiting home?
Why not ask your neighbours or co-workers?
Are you having a lawyer write the will? They may have people from the office witness it. That’s what happened when we did ours. They just have to verify that you actually signed it.
This is exactly right. They don’t have to know you. They just have to verify that you are the person signing. You may have to produce a couple forms of id.
I’m unemployed at the moment, and I was hoping to use a form will, since I’m basically saying “Give it all to this person.”
Your bank or credit union may have a notary public that could witness this for you.
I agree. Or perhaps try your local library/community centre. Here there’s often someone available to help out with that sort of thing.
I’ve gotten things notarized at the local Kinko’s or equivalent. If witnesses are needed, they call over one of the other workers to sign. Just go to one of the larger shops that will have more than 1 employee on duty. Heck, in small shops I’ve seen 'em borrow people from the hair salon next door.
This isn’t hard, really.
Unfortunately, I’ve just found out only a lawyer can notarize a will in New York State. I’ve called around but have yet to find one that is willing to notarize a form will or provide witnesses.
Does anyone know if this can be done at City Hall or something, the way weddings are conducted? Thanks.
Yep. When people come in looking for a notary, I direct them to the UPS Store up the street. I used to tell them to go to their bank, but lately banks have begun charging for notary service even for their own customers.
In addition to getting the will signed, you should also consider getting a self proving affidavit signed by the witnesses;
From this site
I would expect this to be essential if you are dealing with people you don’t even know as witnesses.
IANAL
I just saw the business about New York. I think that this prohibition applies only to the will itself (getting the will notarized is actually pointless anyway). I think they don’t notarize wills so people don’t think all they need to do is have their will notarized and it is good. As long as you have two (three?) adults sign the will as witnesses, the will is good. You can have their signatures on the self proving affidavit notarized. I am not, however, absolutely sure about this and anyway IANAL.
See the wiki discussion of notaries in New York . Of course, wikipedia is perhaps an even worse place to go for legal advice than me, if such a thing is possible.
When you mentioned “Local Kinkop” as above, what kind of store you really talking about ? Please advise. Thanks.
Considering this is what we call a zombie — a very old thread resurrected when you posted to it ---- your best bet for an answer is to PM the poster. He/she/whatever is still active but may miss this thread.
And the store mentioned is Kinko’s; a chain of photocopy and mailing centers very popular back in 2008.
My 2008 Kinko’s is now a FedEx store with copy services.
However, everyone of a certain age will still call it “Kinkos” even though that hasn’t really been part of its name for years. I can’t tell if that’s really good or really bad branding.
For some its almost a “Kleenex Effect”. My “Kinko’s” is actually a Mailboxes Etc but when I say I’m going to Kinko’s my wife knows exactly where I’m headed. In fact, it may have another name by now. But the destination and purpose is still the same.
Yes, this is a zombie. And I’m the guy who said Kinko’s back in ought-eight.
But kopek just above probably doesn’t have a local “Mailboxes, Etc.” store here in 2017. Those were all eaten by UPS back around 2010 and are now “UPS Stores” or “UPS Mailing Centers”: https://www.theupsstore.com/
By far my favorite mailing place is a minor league franchise chain called “Goin’ Postal”: https://www.goinpostal.com/ I totally support them just for their tres awesome name.