Writing a will is only half the battle. If your family cannot find the original paper document when you pass away, the law treats you as if you died without making one at all. This situation, known as dying intestate, triggers strict legal default rules that dictate exactly who inherits your estate. Completely ignoring whatever your unwritten or missing wishes might have been. Courts rarely accept photocopies because they lack an original wet-ink signature and fail to prove the document was not intentionally destroyed or revoked. So, securing the original paper copy is essential.
The Real Dangers of Keeping a Will at Home
While locking your will in a filing cabinet or drawer at home seems like the most straightforward choice, it poses the highest risk. Important papers often go missing during home renovations, unexpected moves, or general decluttering.
There is also the permanent threat of physical damage from house fires, burst pipes, mould, or dampness. If a document is torn, water-damaged, or shows signs of tampering like unexplained staple marks, a probate court may reject it as invalid. Furthermore, home storage relies entirely on your memory. If you tuck it away too securely, your executors might never locate it. Or it could be discovered and read prematurely by individuals you intended to keep out of your financial affairs. If you are still planning or updating your will, you can use our will writing services page for further guidance.
Professional and Official Storage Options
To eliminate these risks, most people opt for a dedicated professional storage solution. If a professional solicitor drafted your will, they will usually look after the original document in their strongroom free of charge. If you wrote the will independently, many firms will still accept it for a modest fee. Because solicitors are strictly regulated, your document remains protected even if the firm closes down or merges in the future.
Alternatively, specialist will-writing companies often offer secure archival storage facilities. Which generally incur either a one-off payment or an annual upkeep fee. In England and Wales, you can also formally lodge your original will directly with the HM Courts and Tribunals Service for a flat, one-off government fee of twenty-three pounds. The document is held in a highly secure central archive until your death. At this point, your named executors can safely retrieve it by providing a death certificate and proving their identity.
For official guidance on making and managing a will in the UK, you can visit the government’s information page.
Locating a Missing Document
If a loved one has passed away and you are struggling to find their will, start by searching through their physical bank statements, letters, and emails for references to law firms or storage receipts. You can also contact the original witnesses listed on any old drafts. As they might remember where the signing took place. If a will cannot be found or is disputed, our probate guidance and support explains what happens next.
More information on searching for wills and probate records through the official service can be found on the government website.
Whichever professional storage option you select, always ensure your chosen executors receive a physical copy, the exact reference numbers, and clear instructions on how to access the original when the time comes.
