Legal Definitions - sealed testament

A sealed testament is a type of will that is also known as a mystic will. It is a secret will that is signed by the testator and then sealed and delivered to a notary in the presence of three to seven witnesses. The notary is required to endorse on the envelope containing the will a statement of all the facts surrounding the transaction, and this is signed by the notary and all the witnesses.

For example, if a wealthy person wants to leave their estate to a secret lover, they may choose to create a sealed testament to ensure that their wishes are carried out without anyone else knowing about it. The sealed testament is a way to keep the contents of the will private until after the testator's death.