Daily AncestorAttest
To attest is to witness and confirm a document by signing it; attesting witnesses signed wills and deeds to confirm they were genuine.
To attest means to certify that something is genuine. Wills and deeds end with an attestation, where witnesses sign to confirm they saw the maker sign.
Witnesses were often neighbors, in-laws or church members. When a will went to probate the attesting witnesses were frequently called to swear to it, so their names appear twice.
As seen in a recordWill recorded in a county will book, 1800s
Signed, sealed and published in the presence of us, attest: Jno. Hill, Eli Ward.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Attest." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/attest. Last checked 2026-10-01.