Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts § 4-603
International will requirements
Effective Oct 1, 2010Added by Acts 2010, c. 63, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, c. 64, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010.State of Maryland
(a) An international will:
- (1) Shall be made in writing;
- (2) Does not need to be written by the testator;
- (3) May be written in any language; and
- (4) May be written by hand or by any other means.
(b)
- (1) The testator shall declare in the presence of at least two witnesses and a person authorized to act in connection with international wills that the document is the testator's will and that the testator knows the contents of the document.
- (2) The testator need not inform the witnesses or the authorized person of the contents of the will.
(c) In the presence of the witnesses and of the authorized person, a testator shall:
- (1) Sign the will; or
- (2) If the testator has previously signed the will, acknowledge the testator's signature.
(d)
(1) If a testator is unable to sign, the absence of the testator's signature does not affect the validity of the will if:
- (i) The testator indicates the reason for the testator's inability to sign; and
- (ii) The authorized person makes note on the will of the reason for the testator's inability to sign.
(2) If a testator is unable to sign, another person present, including the authorized person or one of the witnesses, may sign the testator's name for the testator if:
- (i) The other person signs at the direction of the testator; and
- (ii) The authorized person makes note on the will of the other person signing the testator's name at the direction of the testator.
- (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person is not required to sign the testator's name at the testator's direction.
- (e) The witnesses and the authorized person shall there and then attest the will by signing their names in the presence of the testator.
Added by Acts 2010, c. 63, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, c. 64, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010.