Appointing an executor does not add to the validity of a will. For a will to be valid, what is required is the will to be
Firstly: the will must be in writing,
Secondly: the will must be signed by the person making the will (the testator) before two witnesses and the two witnesses sign the will in front of the testator.
Thirdly: the testator must be of sound mind and understanding when making the will; and
Fourthly: the testator cannot be pressured into making the will.
We always recommend that a person takes professional advice when making a will. If you use a professional they will guide you in making the will and in particular they will make sure that you appoint an executor.
Sometimes a person will make a will at home. We never recommend that someone does this. Homemade wills tend to contain unforeseen traps or difficulties that cause hardship in the future.
However if a person makes a will without professional advice and fails to appoint an executor, it doesn’t mean that the will is invalid. Appointing an executor is not a criteria for a valid will. What is needed are the four essential criteria as listed above.
Hope this helps and if you have any will drafting or executor queries, please reach out to us on info@kerrywills.ie