If you name someone as the person who will get all of your money in a will, do they have to sign it as well? ?

Question

Want to leave all my money to someone who is not able to be contacted for a while---is this possible? Do they have to sign the will to get the money or how does that work?

Answer 1

The will is not signed by beneficiaries.  The will is signed by the testator and witnesses.

You do not have to locate the person to whom you leave your estate.  But it may present problems and expenses to your executor and to the estate, because that person will have to be found (or a diligent effort put forward to find him).

After your death, the executor has the responsibility to distribute the assets of the estate according to the directions in the will.

You should have the advice of your attorney when you draw up your will.  You do not want some technical error to undermine your wishes.

Answer 2

No they dont. Remember Great Expectations? Haha.

Answer 3

No.  They don't even have to know about it.  It's a good idea to have your will witnessed or notarized, though.

Answer 4

No.  You can leave your money to someone you have never met, if you wish.  When you sign the will, you can tell them about it or not, as you wish.  If you change your mind and decide to make a new will, you can do that as well, and you can again tell the person about it or not as you wish.