Will Registration in the UK is not a legal requirement. But there are some benefits to registering your Will that make it a sensible thing to do.
Even if you want to keep the contents of your Will secret from your family, you should let them know you have made a Will. If no one knows you’ve made a Will, then no one will look for it when you die. Then your estate will end up intestate instead of your wishes being followed.
Registering your Will doesn’t put the contents out there for everyone to see. All it does is create a record that your Will exists and where it can be found when you die.
Missing Wills and Lost Inheritance
If a Will is missing or no one knows it exists, it can lead to people missing out on their inheritances. Even if you’ve spoken about your Will and where it is, there is no guarantee that they are going to remember or that they will even outlive you. When you register your Will, the record not only tells people that your Will exists, but also where to find it. If you use a storage service, like WillFinda, registering your Will makes it easy for your executor to retrieve your Will.
If you don’t register your Will and it is not found until after assets have been distributed, then there can be serious consequences. The consequences can be worse when the asset distribution is incorrect. Especially for the executor and those who have missed out on their inheritance. These consequences can include legal action against the executor. The executor could face being held personally responsible for compensating the beneficiaries who have lost their inheritance. In this case, the executor must show they did everything possible to locate the missing Will.
How Will Registration Helps
As soon as you sign your Will, you should register it. Not only does it provide a public record that you have made a Will, but it is also independent.
When you register your Will with WillFinda, your Will is registered in our database. We record when you wrote the Will and where it is stored. The service costs just £9.99, a very small price to pay to ensure that your Will doesn’t get overlooked. The price is the same no matter where your Will is stored. If you choose to store your Will with WillFinda, it will be easy to locate. If you store your Will with a solicitor or have it hidden away, your executor and loved ones might find it.
To register your Will with WillFinda, simply fill out the form here. Register your Will today and get peace of mind for just £9.99.
