Fingerprints needed for Lastwill in future

Steps have been taken to obtain fingerprints in addition to signatures when registering last wills under newly passed legislation. Meanwhile, all power of attorney documents will have to be registered.

Those registering all types of indentures of deeds including deeds of sale and deeds of gift will also hereafter have to place both their signature and fingerprint on each page.

Under the new laws, only last wills that have been registered by the Registrar General’s Department after being signed by two witnesses and certified by either a Notary  public or attorney-at-law will hereafter be accepted.

Local power of attorney documents must be signed before a notary public while power of attorney for those living in foreign countries must either be certified by the ambassador or consul general resident in that country, or by an attorney, solicitor or barrister in that country holding equivalent rank to a local notary public. 

It will hereafter be illegal to keep any signed deed, last will or power of attorney without registering them.

The new laws have come into effect from October 25. All deeds, last wills or power of attorney documents that have been signed but have so far not been registered must be registered with the Registrar General’s Department within the next six months.   

Meanwhile Speaker  Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, endorsed two more bills - the Notaries Ordinance (Amendment) Bill and the Registration of Documents (Amendment) Bill.

Accordingly, the Bills will come to effect from October 31.

By Ranjith Padmasiri