Is a will invalid if a witness dies? If a witness to your will dies before you, the will remains valid, but complications could arise. For example, when your executors apply for probate, they may need to provide proof that the witness has died, and that their signatures were valid.
Your witnesses won't have to testify as to your will's validity when you die, for the affidavit speaks to the will's validity and serves as extra insurance that they witnessed your signature. This “Self-Proving” Affidavit also avoids problems that may arise if the witnesses cannot be located.
If a witness dies before you (or 'predeceases' as lawyers refer to it) then it won't invalidate your Will, but it can lead to complications. When applying for probate it is possible that the executor could be asked to provide proof that a witness has died and that their signature is valid.
Is a will invalid if a witness dies? If a witness to your will dies before you, the will remains valid, but complications could arise. For example, when your executors apply for probate, they may need to provide proof that the witness has died, and that their signatures were valid.
Technically, any two people can be witnesses when creating a will who should be non-beneficiaries or their close relatives, and preferably younger than the will maker in age.
A beneficiary can't witness a will – and the same goes for the spouse or civil partner of any beneficiaries. If you did get your will witnessed by a beneficiary (or their husband, wife or civil partner) any gifts, money and property that you've left to them in your will would be void.
The evidence of a witness who could not be subjected to cross-examination due to his death before he could be cross-examined, is admissible in evidence, though the evidentiary value will depend upon the facts and circumstances of case.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TESTIMONY OF A WITNESS WHO DIES OR BECOMES UNAVAILABLE? > However, if the other party did not have the opportunity to cross-examine before the subsequent death or unavailability of the witness, the testimony will have no probative value.
Where such person does not appear, or appears but fails to satisfy the Court that there was a lawful excuse for his absence, the Court may impose a fine, not exceeding Rs. 500 to be recovered by the attachment (if not already effected) and sale of his property (Order XVI, Rule 12, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908).
If a witness fails to attend court or give evidence or produce the required documents, they can be punished for contempt of court with a fine and/or a prison sentence.
P.C. if the accused may proof that any vital witness may wants to go abroad, he may file application before the Ld. Court for exam him first and break the normal schedule. the Court may exam that person if he desire so u/s 135 of Evidence Act.
Unchallenged evidence – the general rule
It is a well-established principle that, in general, a party must challenge in cross-examination the evidence of any witness of the opposing party if he/she wishes to argue that evidence given on a particular issue should not be accepted (Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R. 67, HL).
Cross-examination gives the opposing party an opportunity to point out the weaknesses of a witness's testimony, like holes in their story or a lack of credibility.
Once the process of direct examination, cross examination, and redirect of all the witnesses is complete, the prosecutor rests his case. After the prosecutor rests, no more witnesses can be called to the stand or evidence introduced by the government.
A will is invalid if: (a) the prescribed requirements regarding formalities and capacity to make and to witness are not met; (see previous article - Statutory requirements for executing a valid will). (c) the will is executed, or a provision is inserted as a result of fraud, coercion or undue influence.
As per the Indian Succession Act, an inheritor mentioned in the Will or his or her wife or husband cannot be a witness to the Will. However, a Will witnessed by an inheritor mentioned in the Will would continue to be valid, expect the property would not pass on to the inheritor witnessing the Will.
As discussed, the role of a witness is simply to confirm that the will is signed by you. As such, the witnesses need not read the contents of your will. In most cases, the attestation page of a will - the page that you and the witnesses sign - is at the back of the will.
So, again, the way to discredit a witness is to bring up prior inconsistent statements that they made. The way to discredit a witness is to call other witness or cross-examine other witnesses and bring up key points about your main witness's testimony and impeach them through over witness statements.
Cross-Examination Cannot Encompass Questions Which Are Scandalous, Intend To Cause Humiliation To Witness: Delhi High Court. The Delhi High Court has observed that the cross-examination cannot encompass questions that are scandalous or intended to cause humiliation to the witness.
Hostile & Untrustworthy – These types of witnesses purposely lie in an attempt to disrupt the investigation. If it has been determined that this person is lying, the next step should be to find out why.
A person might be called just in order to produce a document. Section 139 of the Act states that- such a person called in for producing documents, does not become a witness. He can be examined in order to establish the credibility of the document. But, he cannot be cross-examined unless he has been called as a witness.
Witness cannot be added as an accused even if his statements are inculpatory : Supreme Court [Read the Judgment]
Good ways to say anything but "No Comment" to questions you really don't want to answer: "I'm sorry but I'm not able to speak to that subject" "Thanks for asking but I'm not able to answer that question" "I'm sorry but that information is proprietary"
Federal law requires a person subpoenaed to testify in federal court be paid witness fees for one day's attendance plus mileage when the subpoena is served. Either the attorney general or the state agency represented by the attorney general may pay those witness fees and the mileage.
While a witness may only require protection until the conclusion of a trial, some witnesses are provided with a new identity and may live out the rest of their lives under government protection.