Which type of will is often recognized when a person is on their deathbed?

A nuncupative will is specifically designed for situations where a person, often due to impending death, verbally expresses their intentions for the distribution of their property to witnesses, rather than formalizing the will in writing. This type of will is often recognized in emergency circumstances, such as when the testator is on their deathbed and unable to complete a traditional written will.

Nuncupative wills are generally valid in some jurisdictions, particularly for individuals who are gravely ill or in imminent danger, but they may come with specific requirements to be enforceable, such as the presence of witnesses and potential limits on the amount of property that can be disposed of through this method.

Other types of wills, such as a living will, are designed to express a person's healthcare wishes rather than the distribution of property upon death. A standard will refers to the common, formally drafted document that outlines how a person's assets will be distributed after their death, requiring specific legal formalities that may not be achievable in the moment of dying. A unilateral will is not a recognized term in the context of wills; it may refer colloquially to a will that a single individual creates without mutual agreement, but it lacks the legal specificity and recognition associated with a nuncupative will in