Under Alabama law, any person 18 years old or older who is of sound mind may make a will. To be valid, the will must be in writing and signed by the testator or by another person at the testator’s direction. The will must also be signed by at least two persons who witnessed the signing or the testator’s acknowledgment of the signature.
Even a will that seems to meet these requirements may be contested during probate. Common grounds for challenging a will include allegations that the testator lacked capacity or that the will was drafted under fraud, duress, or undue influence. Sometimes more than one will is found to be in existence, and the court must determine which will is valid and which will has been validly revoked.