About Deposition of Witness to Prove Signatures of Deceased Attesting Witness and of the Testator
Allows a deponent to testify under oath regarding the handwriting and signatures of a deceased testator and deceased attesting witnesses to a will when those witnesses cannot provide live testimony.
When you'd use it: When attesting witnesses to a will are deceased and their signatures or the testator's signature must be proven during probate proceedings.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Deposition of Witness to Prove Signatures of Deceased Attesting Witness and of the Testator is published as a PDF by the Virginia courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Source: vacourts.gov
Link last checked: May 30, 2026
How to file Deposition of Witness to Prove Signatures of Deceased Attesting Witness and of the Testator in Virginia
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Deposition of Witness to Prove Signatures of Deceased Attesting Witness and of the Testator (CC-1603) when attesting witnesses to a will are deceased and their signatures or the testator's signature must be proven during probate proceedings. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Virginia probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Deposition of Witness to Prove Signatures of Deceased Attesting Witness and of the Testator carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Deposition of Witness to Prove Signatures of Deceased Attesting Witness and of the Testator to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Virginia county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).