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testamentary capacity

Testamentary capacity refers to the ability of a person to make a valid will . Most states have both an age requirement (usually 18 years old) and a mental capacity requirement. To have mental capacity, the testator must have the ability to know: 

• The nature/extent of their property

• The natural objects of their property;

• The disposition that their will is making; and

• The ability to connect all of these elements together to form a coherent plan.

See: Banks v. Goodfellow, L.R. 5 Q.B. 549 (1870) ; How to Assess Capacity to Make a Will ; The Marriage of Psychology and Law: Testamentary Capacity .

[Last reviewed in April of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team
]

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