{
  "id": 8218457,
  "title": "Is Will registration mandatory? No, but witnesses are",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/is-will-registration-mandatory-no-but-witnesses-are",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-18T09:39:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/legal/will/is-will-registration-mandatory-no-but-two-witnesses-are-required-by-law/articleshow/134331040.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Will in India does not need to be registered under law, regardless of the testator's religion. Section 18 of the Registration Act, 1908, treats Wills as documents that can be registered but are not mandatory to register. Advancing registration voluntarily can deter forgery allegations, safeguard the original from loss or destruction, and make probate or contested succession proceedings smoother for the family after the testator's death. The cost and minor inconvenience of registration are typically outweighed by the benefits it offers.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Will registration not mandatory by law in India.",
    "Registration aids in preventing forgery and loss.",
    "Benefits outweigh minor cost and inconvenience."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}