Final answer:
The correct answer is option (d). In most states, a written will must be signed before two or more witnesses, who must also sign the document. These witnesses confirm the testator's signature and sound mind. Failure to produce a valid will results in intestate succession based on state laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
In most states, a written will must be signed by its testator (the person who has made the will) before two or more witnesses, who must also sign the document.
This requirement is to ensure the authenticity of the will and the true intentions of the testator. Following this process helps prevent any potential challenges to the will after the testator's death.
The witnesses serve as verifiers of the testator's signature and acknowledgment that the testator is of sound mind and not under duress while making the will.
It is not necessary for the will to be signed in the presence of an attorney, before the clerk of the probate court, or according to the state's law of descent and distribution; however, these practices may vary depending on the specific legal requirements of the state.
When a person dies without a valid will, they are considered to have died intestate. In such cases, the distribution of their assets is then governed by the state's intestacy laws, which usually prioritize the distribution of assets to the closest relatives such as the spouse, children, parents, and siblings in a hierarchical order.