Where Is Your Will?

Making a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect the people you care about. But there is another question that matters just as much: Where is your will kept?

A will is only useful if it can be found when it is needed. If the original document cannot be located, your wishes may not be carried out and your estate could even be treated as if there were no will at all. That can create unnecessary stress, cost and delay at a time when your family is already under pressure.

Why location matters
Storing your will properly is not just an administrative detail. It is a safeguard.

• Peace of mind Knowing your will is secure removes a major source of worry.
• Clarity for your family Your executors need to know where to look so they can act quickly and confidently.
• Avoiding disputes Making sure the most up-to-date version is clearly stored reduces the risk of confusion or conflict later.

In recent years, more people have been caught out when the firm that originally drafted their will closed, relocated or merged. Important documents can be lost or become difficult to retrieve if no one knows who holds them. Storage is not just a formality. It is part of making your will effective.

Safe places to store your will
There is no single correct answer, but your will needs to be both secure and accessible:

• With your solicitor Many firms, including ours, offer free secure storage and keep clear records of where the original is held.
• At home If you prefer to keep your will yourself, make sure your executors know where it is and how to access it. Avoid locking it away in a safe or strongbox no one else can open.
• With the Probate Service HM Courts and Tribunals Service provides a national storage scheme for a one-off fee.
• With your bank Some banks still offer will storage, though access can take time and the service is becoming less common.

Whichever option you choose, keep the original in good condition. Do not clip or staple other documents to it. Even small marks can create difficulties later.

Tell the right people

Even the safest storage is no use if no one knows about it. Make sure your executors, and if appropriate a close family member, know:

• Where the will is kept
• Who holds the original
• How it can be accessed if it is with a solicitor, HMCTS or a bank

If you are searching for a loved one’s will

Sometimes families are not sure where a will is after someone has died. If that happens, you can:

• Contact the person’s solicitor, accountant or bank
• Check with the Probate Service
• Search the National Will Register (also known as Certainty)

If no will is located, the estate is usually handled under the rules of intestacy.

Writing your will is only half the story

Knowing exactly where your will is, and making sure the right people do too, is what gives real peace of mind.

At Leigh Duncan, we offer free secure storage for our clients’ wills and write to their executors to confirm where the document is held. You can be confident your wishes will always be easy to find and followed.

If you are unsure about where your will is stored, or want the reassurance of secure storage, talk to us today.