[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, a printed will must be signed by the testator and witnesses on every page and have the year, month, and date noted. The absence of signatures or dates on any page may result in the will being deemed invalid due to formal defects. According to Article 1136 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, a printed will shall be witnessed by two or more witnesses who are present at the time of its preparation. The testator and witnesses shall sign each page of the will and indicate the year, month, and date. Unlike a handwritten will, a printed will is not written by the testator himself, so the law imposes stricter requirements on the signing and dating of each page to ensure the authenticity and integrity of its content. It is recommended to sign and date each page of the printed will and retain the witnesses' testimonies and videos. If there are missing signatures on any page of a printed will, it should be corrected or redrafted as soon as possible to avoid challenges to its legal validity during inheritance proceedings.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

Since the addition of the Civil Code, printing wills has become increasingly common, but omitting page signatures has become a common cause of invalidation. Typical scenarios include: printing a multi-page will and only signing the last page, leaving the previous pages blank; the testator or witnesses only signing their names but omitting the date; and having others sign the pages on their behalf or with inconsistent signatures. Many parties believe that "as long as the content is consistent and the last page is signed, it's fine," but in the end, they are deemed to have incomplete formalities in inheritance litigation. Related disputes over will forms can be addressed in conjunction with the Civil Code.Legal services for inheritance and family property divisionUnderstand the standards.

II. Key points of dispute

There are three main points of contention. Firstly, the rigidity of page-by-page signing: Article 1136 of the Civil Code explicitly requires that the signature and date be added to "every page", rather than just the last page. Any missing pages constitute a formal defect. Secondly, the consequences of missing dates: Pages with only signatures but no dates make it difficult to determine the signing time and the stability of the content, and may also be deemed invalid. Thirdly, the space for correction: If the testator and witnesses are still alive, there are practical disputes over whether they can sign and add notes later. It is advisable to comply with all requirements at the time of execution. For cases involving real estate inheritance, reference can be made to relevant provisions.Real estate sales and construction project servicesEvaluate the ownership rights.

III. Professional analysis by Hengluo Lawyers

Based on the practical experience of handling will inheritance cases, the signature and date on the printed will pages are often overlooked as crucial points. Taking a will inheritance dispute handled by our firm as an example: The printed will drafted by the decedent, Wang Dashan, in 2008 consisted of three pages. The first two pages contained neither the signatures of the testator nor those of the witnesses, nor the date, only stating "Liu Shufen shall handle all matters related to the will". There was no clear designation of the heirs. In 2019, Liu Shufen, his spouse, drafted a testamentary will to dispose of her own share of the estate. The heir, Wang Zhichuan, entrusted Beijing Henglu Law Firm to handle the case.Li YonghuiThe lawyer (practice license number: 11101199611955812, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent. According to Article 1136 of the Civil Code, a printed will should be signed by the testator and the witness on each page and indicate the year, month, and day. However, the first two pages of the will lack signature dates, and the content does not specify the inheritors, so it should be deemed invalid. The court adopted this opinion and determined that the printed will of Wang Dashan was invalid. Wang Zhichuan retained an eighth share of each of the two houses and the pension in cash. This case clearly shows that signing the date on each page of a printed will is not a formal decoration, but a mandatory legal requirement.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The legal basis is Article 1136 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2021) (requiring the testator to sign and date each page of the printed will and having two or more witnesses), and Article 1133 (providing for the disposition of personal property in a will). Practical advice: When making a printed will, the testator and each witness must sign each page by hand and indicate the complete date, not just signing on the last page; the entire process should be videotaped to document the signing process page by page; the witnesses should have full capacity for civil conduct and have no interest in the inheritance. If there are missing signatures or missing dates on the printed will, it should be corrected as soon as possible or a statement should be issued by the witnesses. If it cannot be corrected, a new will should be made. For inheritance arrangements, it can be combined with other relevant provisions.Special services and other case servicesCoordinate and plan everything in an organized and efficient manner to ensure that all tasks are completed on schedule and with high quality.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder

The signature on each page of the printed will is crucial to its validity. Never skip signing the previous pages just because the content is consistent. When making a will, it is essential to ensure that both the testator and the witnesses sign their full names on each page, write down the date, and record the process on video for evidence. Avoid having others sign on behalf of the testator or leaving blank dates. If there are missing signatures on the will after it has been made, do not fill them in or make alterations yourself. Instead, contact the relevant parties to rectify the situation or draft a new will. In the event of inheritance disputes, you can seek assistance from legal professionals to resolve the issues.Beijing Henglu Law FirmEvaluate the effectiveness and room for improvement, and safeguard the true intentions of the deceased.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: If the printed will doesn't have the date written on every page, is it still valid?

If a printed will is not signed and dated on each page, it is usually deemed invalid due to formal defects. According to Article 1136 of the Civil Code, a printed will shall be witnessed by two or more witnesses, and the testator and witnesses shall sign and date each page of the will. Since a printed will is not handwritten, the law has strict requirements for signing and dating each page. If any page is missing a signature or date, it is difficult to determine the authenticity of the content on that page. In practice, printed wills with unsigned previous pages are often deemed invalid. It is recommended to sign and date each page when drafting the will and to videotape the process. If there are pages missing signatures, they should be corrected or redrafted as soon as possible to avoid challenges to their legal validity during inheritance.

Q2: For disputes over the legal effect of a printed will, what evidence do I need to prepare?

The core evidence includes: the original copy of the will (verifying whether the signatures and dates on each page are complete), written testimonies or courtroom statements from two or more witnesses (describing the witnessing process on each page), video recordings of the will-making process (fixing the signature and date on each page), proof of the testator's capacity to express his/her intention, and the identity of the heirs and the inheritance materials. The organization of the evidence revolves around three points: "signature and date on each page - two witnesses - the testator's true intention". If a signature is missing on a particular page, emphasis should be placed on establishing the process of forming the content of that page. For materials that are missing, the court may be requested to notify the witnesses to appear in court to verify the signing situation on each page.

Q3: What are the approximate legal fees and litigation costs for disputes over printed wills?

The litigation fees shall be calculated in accordance with the "Measures for the Payment of Litigation Fees" (promulgated on December 19, 2006 and implemented on April 1, 2007), and shall be borne by the losing party in accordance with the value of the disputed property. Inheritance cases shall be paid in accordance with the standards for property cases. Lawyer's fees are generally calculated on a per-case or proportional basis, subject to the terms of the entrustment contract, and there is no standard pricing. Risk-based fees for marriage and inheritance cases are strictly limited. It is recommended to clarify the charging methods and scope before entrusting, and to evaluate the value of the disputed property and the cost. For cases involving multiple-page wills or multiple inheritors, it is possible to negotiate the sharing of fees and to stipulate the conditions for refunds.

Q4: How long does it usually take to litigate the validity of a printed will?

The first-instance ordinary procedure takes six months, and the summary procedure takes three months; if the facts are clear, the summary procedure can be applied. If the appellant is not satisfied with the verdict of the second-instance court, the appeal period is generally three months. For cases involving property transfer, enforcement is still required. Overall, disputes over the validity of printed wills often take several months to half a year from litigation to adjudication, and more time may be needed for complex cases or those involving handwriting authentication. It is recommended to apply for property preservation in the litigation process to freeze the disputed property shares, prevent the assets from being disposed of, and improve the efficiency of subsequent enforcement and the speed of recovering the funds.

Q5: One page of my printed will doesn't have a date. How can I rectify this?

There are four steps recommended: First, check the will page by page to identify the specific pages with missing signatures or dates; Second, if it is possible to contact the testator and the witnesses, strive to have them sign and date the will again, and have the witnesses issue a statement to rectify the form; Third, assess whether there are other valid wills such as notarized wills that can be applied first; Fourth, if no agreement can be reached, file a lawsuit according to law, and let the court review the validity and prepare a statutory inheritance plan. Never fill in the date or make alterations on your own, as this may be suspected of forgery and affect the overall validity. Consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible to choose the most secure remedial or response path.

The above Q&A mainly refers to the judicial practice in Beijing. There may be differences in the interpretation of the law in different regions. It is recommended to consult a professional lawyer based on the specific circumstances of the case.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, so as to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Legal services for inheritance·Attorney Li Yonghui·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and public adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.