In India, a will generally must be attested by at least two witnesses to be legally valid under Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925. Each witness should see the testator (the person making the will) sign or affix their mark, or receive an acknowledgment of that signature, and each witness must sign the will in the testator’s presence.
The witnesses should ideally be independent and trustworthy adults who are not beneficiaries under the will. Although a beneficiary can potentially act as a witness, it is generally better to use independent witnesses to avoid questions or disputes about the will later.
A will does not generally need to be registered to be valid in India. However, registration may provide additional evidentiary value and can sometimes help reduce disputes about its authenticity.
So, the simple answer is: at least two witnesses are required for a will in India.
