Legal document witness signatures

My wife witnessed my signature when I sold my business property.

There are cases when documents are private and for family eyes only.

Can a spouse witness the other halves signature on a document that does not refer to the other party ie a Deed of Variation.

Reply to
Ten Pin Bowling
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That is no excuse. The witnesses are to your signature only and not to the document itself. All they need to be shown is the signature block. They sign to say it's you who signed it. They do not even have to know the nature of the document, and certainly do not have (any right to) to see the contents.

I suspect not, though I could be wrong. The possibility of collusion and common interest arises. The correct procedure is to have independent witnesses who do not stand to gain, even indirectly, from the transaction involved.

Reply to
Norman Wells

IANAL, so won't offer an opinion on your specific question.

However, the thing to remember is that a witness is witnessing another's signature. There is no reason to let a witness read the document.

Reply to
Martin

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