Difference between witness and guarantor?

[user6078472]

Brother in law has got father in law (his DF) to be his guarantor for a house he is renting. He has now asked DH to be a witness. I've tried to have a google but not really getting anywhere. Would DH be liable in any way if BIL doesn't pay his rent?

Yes he would have to pay the rent if your brother can't. That what a guarantor is.

No he his just witnessing that they are who they say they are and not signing under duress.

A witness is just to prove bil is who he says he us

Witness to what?

If all he wants him to witness a signature then there is no obligation to anything.

It will be a witness to the signing of the documents, ie he will be signing to say yes this person has freely signed to be a guarantor.

We have had to have a witness each time I have signed my DS Uni digs guarantor forms.

FIL will have to pay if BIL doesn't, the witness is to confirm that FIL actually signed the paper (to prevent forgery).

I wouldn't have thought your DH could do it anyway though. Whenever I've had to have something witnessed it's needed to be someone unrelated.