Making a Will is one thing – an extremely important thing – but it counts for nothing if you don’t keep it somewhere safe and in a place where it can be easily accessed by your executors after you are gone.
The whole purpose of making a Will is that your final wishes are recognised and carried out after your death, so if you’ve gone to the trouble of making one doesn’t it make sense to ensure that it isn’t lost or destroyed before that time comes?
Secure storage
There are several options you may be thinking about when it comes to storing your Will safely and securely:
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Keeping it yourself – Storing your Will at home may seem like a good idea but you are running the risk of it being lost, damaged or destroyed. It’s terribly easy to lose documents at home, particularly over a long period of time. There’s also the chance of someone finding it who may not be the beneficiary they thought they were, raising the possibility of your Will never being found. It’s also important to ensure your executors are aware of the Will otherwise this could lead to no one knowing about it and you effectively dying intestate.
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Store it with a solicitor – If a solicitor has drawn up your Will, they will probably store it for you at no extra charge. A solicitor may also be in a position to store your Will if it’s been made elsewhere – but this will almost certainly involve a fee.
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Lodge it with the Probate Service – This also involves a fee and you must lodge your Will with the service officially, while taking it out again also needs official permission. You can only take the Will back while you’re alive by submitting the appropriate form and you can’t ask a third party to get it for you.
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At the bank – If you’re thinking about a safety deposit box – don’t! To access the contents of the box after your death your executors must show proof of the right to access those contents, and that’s in the Will which is secured in the box!
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Willmakers of the Midlands – We provide safe and secure document storage provision. We are also able to check the validity of your Will in our care if we were not in attendance at the signing. Our service also includes keeping you and your Will up to date with the latest legislation.
When you consider all the alternatives, we believe our service provides the best option for clients. We are able to ensure your Will is drawn up correctly and legally and keep it safe and secure while keeping you apprised of any changes which may need to be made to conform to legal requirements until the day comes when it’s needed.
For more information on how we can help you, call us on 01952 305105 or 07786 548025 or email enquiries@