Statute of Frauds 1695

Devises of land must be in writing and signed, and attested and subscribed by three witnesses in devisor's presence.

25 G. 2. 11.

III.(a ) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the said feast day of the nativity of St. John the Baptist, which shall be in the said year of our Lord one thousand six hundred ninety and six, all devises and bequests of any lands, tenements or hereditaments, devisable, either by force of the statute of wills, or by this statute, or by force of the custom of any burrough, or any other particular custom, shall be in writing, and signed by the party so devising the same, or by some other person in his presence, and by his express directions, and shall be attested and subscribed in the presence of the said devisor, by three or more credible witnesses, or else they shall be utterly void and of none effect: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Rep., save as to wills made before 1st January 1838, 7 Will. 4. & 1 Vict. c. 26. ss. 2, 34.]

[1 (a) The omitted part of this section, enacting that no devise in writing of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, shall be revocable otherwise than by some other will or codicil in writing, or other writing declaring the same, or by burning, cancelling, tearing, or obliterating the same, by the testator himself or in his presence, and by his directions and consent, is repealed by section 2 of the Wills Act.]