# Finding witnesses for a will? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457 "2008-03-31T22:13:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/1 "2008-03-31T22:13:59Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/2 "2008-03-31T22:18:18Z")
Why not ask your neighbours or co-workers? ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/3 "2008-03-31T23:29:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/4 "2008-03-31T23:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=thirdwarning] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/5 "2008-04-01T00:19:23Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/6 "2008-04-01T00:56:23Z")
Your bank or credit union may have a notary public that could witness this for you. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/7 "2008-04-01T00:58:58Z")
[QUOTE=Harriet the Spry] Your bank or credit union may have a notary public that could witness this for you. [/QUOTE] I agree. Or perhaps try your local library/community centre. Here there’s often someone available to help out with that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/8 "2008-04-01T13:21:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/9 "2008-04-11T17:32:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/10 "2008-04-11T17:42:21Z")
[QUOTE=LSLGuy] I’ve gotten things notarized at the local Kinko’s or equivalent. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/11 "2008-04-11T19:09:13Z")
In addition to getting the will signed, you should also consider getting a self proving affidavit signed by the witnesses; > [@](#): > > Consider if a Notary and Self-Proving Affidavit are Best for You. Notarizing your Will is unnecessary, unless you choose to complete a Self-Proving Affidavit simultaneous with the signing of your Will. It is strongly recommended that you complete the Self-Proving Affidavit, unless you live in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio, or Vermont, where they are not permitted. (In California, all wills are considered “self-proved” once they are properly signed and executed by the testator and all witnesses. In Louisiana, signing your Will in the presence of the witnesses before a notary public is required.) A Self-Proving Affidavit will make it unnecessary for your witnesses to appear in court to affirm your Will’s validity after your death. The Affidavit can potentially save your beneficiaries and witnesses considerable inconvenience. It also gives your Will an extra layer of authentication that can help your beneficiaries avoid a long and costly probate process. From [this site](http://www.ilrg.com/forms/lastwill/10steps.html) I would expect this to be essential if you are dealing with people you don’t even know as witnesses. IANAL ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/12 "2008-04-11T19:33:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/13 "2008-04-11T19:44:27Z")
See the [wiki discussion of notaries in New York](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notary_public_(New_York)) . Of course, wikipedia is perhaps an even worse place to go for legal advice than me, if such a thing is possible. ---
**Author:** ![QWFLB49\_YAHOO.COM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e480ec/32.png) [@QWFLB49\_YAHOO.COM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QWFLB49_YAHOO.COM)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/14 "2017-08-02T23:39:17Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > 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. When you mentioned “Local Kinkop” as above, what kind of store you really talking about ? Please advise. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/15 "2017-08-03T01:16:14Z")
> [@QWFLB49\_YAHOO.COM](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/16 "2017-08-03T01:49:54Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/17 "2017-08-03T03:56:09Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/18 "2017-08-03T04:22:30Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-witnesses-for-a-will/443457/19 "2017-08-03T20:42:02Z")
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/](https://www.theupsstore.com/) By far my favorite mailing place is a minor league franchise chain called “Goin’ Postal”: [https://www.goinpostal.com/](https://www.goinpostal.com/) I totally support them just for their tres awesome name.