The order that matters
You sign, or acknowledge an existing signature, in front of two witnesses who are both present at the same time. They then sign the will themselves, in your presence, though not necessarily in each other's. Every step needs to happen in that order and within the same continuous appointment; a witness signing later, after everyone has left, doesn't satisfy the Act.
Initial each page if your lawyer's practice calls for it; it isn't a legal requirement, but it makes later questions about substitution or alteration easier to answer.
Signing over video
Ontario allows the witnessing steps to happen over live audio-visual technology instead of in the same room, provided at least one witness is a lawyer or other Law Society licensee at the time, the signing and witnessing happen essentially simultaneously, and any conditions set by regulation are met. Copies can be signed in counterpart by everyone involved and together make up the will.
Keep the connection stable and everyone visible for the whole signature; a dropped call partway through raises exactly the question this option is meant to avoid.
Who shouldn't witness
Anyone named as a beneficiary, or married to or in a relationship with a beneficiary, can technically witness, but the gift to them is generally void as a result, unless a court later confirms the will's validity despite it. Use people with nothing to gain: colleagues, neighbours, or staff at the lawyer's office are the standard choice, and a lawyer present can act as one of the two witnesses.
After the signatures are on the page
Once properly signed and witnessed, the will is valid immediately; nothing further needs to happen for it to take legal effect, though it won't be tested for accuracy until it's actually used. Keep the signed original intact, undamaged and unmarked; deliberate tearing or marking by the testator can itself be read as an act of revocation later.
Your steps
Who's involved
Signs, or acknowledges the signature, in front of both witnesses in the same appointment.
Present together, watching the signature, then signing themselves in your presence.
Runs the signing procedure correctly and can act as one of the two witnesses.
Documents you will need
Guides to download
Questions people ask
Do both witnesses need to be in the same room as each other?
They need to be present at the same time as you when you sign or acknowledge your signature, whether that's in person or together over live audio-visual technology; they don't need to sign in each other's physical presence afterward.
Can my spouse witness my will?
Yes, unless your spouse is also named as a beneficiary, in which case witnessing risks voiding their own gift under the will.
What if a witness later can't be found to confirm the will?
An affidavit of execution, sworn by a witness close to the time of signing, is often used specifically so their evidence is preserved for a probate application years later.
Can I sign my will electronically?
No. Ontario's curative power for improperly executed documents specifically doesn't extend to a document that exists only in electronic form with no signed, fixed version; a wet signature on paper, or a signed counterpart, is still required.
Does tearing my will by accident revoke it?
Only if it's done by you, or someone in your presence and by your direction, with the intention of revoking it. Accidental damage without that intention doesn't revoke a will, though it can raise awkward questions later, so keep the original intact.
Also in this centre
Read more
Related centres
Other Learning Centres for the same transaction.
Sources
General information about Ontario law as of 5 September 2026, not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer–client relationship.
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