ATTESTATION (Lat. ad, to, testari, to witness).
The act of witnessing • an instrument in writing, at the request of the party making the same, and subscribing it as a witness. 3 P. Will. 254 ; 2 Ves. Ch. 454; 1 Ves. & B. Ch. Ir. 362 ; 3 A. K. Marsh. Ky. 146; 17 Pick. Mass. 373.
Deeds, at common law; do not require attest ation in order to be valid, 1 Wood, Cony. 239; 2 Blackstone, Comm. 307 ; 3 Dane, Abr. 354; Cheves, So. C. 273; 12 Mete. Mass. 157; and there are several states where it is not neces sary. 1 Serg. & R. Penn. 73; 1 Hayw. No. C. 205 ; 13 Ala. 321 ; 12 Mete. Mass. 157. In Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, and New York, attestation or acknowledgment before a proper officer is required. Lalor, Real Est. 238 ; 5 Ark. 693 ; Thornton, Cony. 66, 161, 187, 373. Where there are statutory regulations on the subject, they must be complied with. In Mississippi, one witness is sufficient, 17 Miss. 325 ; in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illi nois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont, two are required. 3 Conn. 35 ; 8 id. 289 ; 2 A. K. Marsh. Ky. 429 ; 2 N. H. 529 ; 13 id. 38; 6 Wheat. 527; 1 McLean, C. C. 520 ; 5 Ohio, 119 ; M'Mull. 373 ; 2 Green leaf, Ev. 4 275, n.; 4 Kent, Comm. 457. The requisites are not the same in all cases as against the grantor and as against purchasers.
2 A. K. Marsh. Ky. 529. See 3 H. 234;13 id. 38.
The attesting witness need not see the grantor write his name: if be sign in the pre sence of the grantor, and at his request, it is sufficient. 2 Bos. & P. 217. Wills must be attested by competent or credible witnesses, 2 Greenleaf, Ev. 691 ; 9 Pick. Mass. 350 ; 1 Burr. 414 ; 4 Burn, Eccl. Law, Phill. ed. 116, who must subscribe their names attesting in the presence of the testator. 7 Harr. & J. Md. 61 ; 3 Harr. & M'H. Md. 457 ; 1 Leigh, Va. 6 ; 1 Maule & S. 294 ; 2 Curt. Eccl. 320; 3 id. 118 ; Carth. 79 ; 2 Greenleaf, Ev. 0 678. And see 13 Gray, Mass. 103 ; 12 Cush. Mass. 342; 1 Yes. Ch. 115 2 Washburn, Real Prop. 682. In the attestation of wills conveying land, three witnesses are requisite in Connec ticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin ; two are sufficient in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Illinois, In diana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Vir ginia. An exception to the general rule ex ists in case of holograph wills in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia. 2 Washburn, Real Prop. 683.