Section 4-603 - Requirements. - Maryland Statutes

§ 4-603. Requirements.
 

(a)  Writing.- 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)  Declaration of contents.-  

(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)  Signature.- 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)  Inability of testator to sign.-  

(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)  Signature of witnesses and authorized person.- The witnesses and the authorized person shall there and then attest the will by signing their names in the presence of the testator. 
 

[2010, chs. 63, 64.]