Can beneficiaries of a will be witnesses to that will?

Prepare for the New Brunswick Bar Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

In most jurisdictions, the rule is that beneficiaries of a will cannot serve as witnesses to the will. This is grounded in the idea that allowing beneficiaries to witness a will could potentially create a conflict of interest or an appearance of undue influence, which might lead to disputes about the intentions of the testator.

When a beneficiary witnesses a will, it raises questions about whether they may have influenced the testator's decisions, which could lead to claims of improper execution or challenge the validity of the will. As a result, many legal systems disallow such arrangements to ensure that the process of witnessing a will remains unbiased and free from any potential influence that might affect the testator's decisions.

While there might be exceptions or specific circumstances where this rule could vary, the general principle stands that having a beneficiary as a witness is not permitted, making this option the correct response.

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