There are two types of ambiguities, one is patent ambiguity and the other is latent ambiguity. Patent ambiguity is an ambiguity appearing on the face of the Will itself and latent ambiguity is an ambiguity which arises when the terms of the Will are applied to existing facts.

Section 80 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 deals with the cases of patent ambiguity and states that, where the language of the Will, though intended to apply to one person or things only, applies equally to two or more and it is not possible to gather from the context which was intended, an equivocation arises.

Example: A man, having two cousins of the name of Mary, bequeaths a sum of money to 'my cousin Mary'. It appears that there are two persons, each answering the description in the Will. That description, therefore, admits of two applications, only one of which can have been intended by the Testator. Evidence is admissible to show which of the two applications was intended.