Do I need to register my Will?

Registration is optional under §18 of Registration Act 1908 for Wills. Unregistered Wills are equally valid. But registration adds public-record credibility and reduces challenges. Stamp duty is nil on a Will.

Can Muslims use this Will generator?

No. Muslim Wills (Wasiyat) are governed by Muslim Personal Law — only 1/3rd of property can be bequeathed without heirs' consent. Use a specialist drafter or consult an advocate familiar with Muslim Personal Law.

Antique wooden desk with blank parchment and quill pen — symbolic of writing a Will

Document Generator

Simple Will — Indian Succession Act 1925

An unprivileged Will under the Indian Succession Act 1925 needs no stamp duty and no compulsory registration — only the testator's signature in the presence of two attesting witnesses. This generator produces a clean, court-defensible Will for straightforward family situations.

Two witnesses must be physically present

Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act requires the testator to sign the Will, and two attesting witnesses to actually see the testator sign (or acknowledge a prior signature). Witnesses must not be beneficiaries — a beneficiary-witness loses their bequest under Section 67. Print this Will, sign it in front of two non-beneficiary adults, and have them sign in the same sitting.

Does the Indian Succession Act apply to me?

The 1925 Act governs Wills made by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, and Parsis. Muslims in India are governed by personal Muslim law, which limits testamentary disposition to one-third of the estate without heirs' consent — this generator is not designed for Muslim Wills. If you are Muslim, please consult a lawyer.

Step 1 — Testator and executor

Step 2 — Beneficiaries and bequests

Add one row per asset-and-beneficiary pair. Be specific: 'my flat at [address]' is better than 'my house'. For bank accounts, write the bank name and last four digits of the account number.

Residue clause: Anything you own at death but did not list above (a residue clause sweeps it to one named person, to avoid intestate succession on stray assets):

Step 3 — Witnesses

You can leave the witness fields blank and have witnesses fill them by hand at the signing — that is in fact the safest approach. If you prefer to pre-fill, the witnesses must STILL be physically present when you sign.

Witness 1

Witness 2

Things to know before signing

Registration is optional — but useful

Section 18 of the Registration Act 1908 makes Will registration optional. A registered Will has stronger presumption of genuineness and is harder to challenge. Fees are nominal (around ₹100 to ₹500 depending on state). Visit the sub-registrar's office of any district where you reside; the testator must be present in person.

No stamp duty

A Will is not chargeable with stamp duty anywhere in India. Plain A4 paper is sufficient. Anyone asking you for stamp paper for a Will is mistaken or trying to overcharge.

A Will can be changed anytime

A Will speaks only from the date of death. You may revoke or replace it any number of times during your lifetime by executing a fresh Will with the same formalities. Always include a phrase 'I revoke all earlier Wills and codicils' in any new Will.

Probate — when is it needed?

Probate (court certification of the Will) is mandatory only for Wills made by Christians, Parsis, and Wills relating to immovable property in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai presidency towns. Elsewhere, a registered Will is usually accepted directly by banks, registrars, and society offices on production of a death certificate.

Disclaimer: This generator produces a simple Will suitable for straightforward family situations under the Indian Succession Act 1925. It is NOT suitable for: HUF property, partnership-firm interests, business succession involving multiple shareholders, beneficiaries with disabilities (consider a Special Needs Trust), estates above ₹5 crore (tax planning needed), or any Will under Muslim personal law. Always have a lawyer review the final draft, especially if real estate is involved.