Once a will has been written and signed, it needs to be stored somewhere safe. After all, the original document may be needed many years later, and if nobody knows where it is, dealing with an estate can become considerably more difficult. GOV.UK also provides guidance on making a will and the importance of keeping it safe.
Keeping a will at home
Some people choose to keep their original will at home, perhaps in a filing cabinet, safe or another secure place where important paperwork is stored. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, provided the document is protected from loss, accidental damage or destruction. If you do keep your will at home, it is important that your executors or close family members know where to find it. A perfectly valid will isn’t much use if nobody knows it exists.
Can a solicitor store your will?
Yes. If a solicitor prepares your will, they may offer to store the original document securely. You would usually keep a copy yourself, along with details explaining where the original is held. This can be a useful option because it reduces the risk of the will being accidentally thrown away, damaged or misplaced during a house move. Professional will writers and specialist storage services may also provide secure will storage.
What happens after someone dies?
When somebody dies, their executors will normally need to locate the original signed will. This confirms who has been appointed to deal with the estate and sets out the deceased person’s wishes. If the family cannot find the will at home, they may contact solicitors or will-writing firms the person previously used and check paperwork for evidence of where it was stored. The original will is generally needed when applying for probate, and GOV.UK provides further guidance on the probate process.
Ultimately, there isn’t one place where wills are always kept. The important thing is to store the original securely and make sure the right people know where to find it when the time comes.
Read more information on what happens if a will is lost, finding a will, death bed gifts and what happens if nobody can find the will. Explore our latest guides for Understanding Wills, Planning Your Will and the Intestacy Guide.
