Solicitors has closed down - problem with will?

Weimy

Hi,

My mother has just been diagnosed with two types of cancer, and from what the doctors have said she has not got much time left.

She has asked me to get her paperwork in order, which I am in the process of doing.

However, when I went to contact her solicitor with regards to her will, I have found out that the solicitors has closed down and can`t be contacted.

I have a copy of her will done by these solicitor, but not the original.

Due to the solicitors closing down and not being able to obtain the original will, will I be able to use the copy as the original? If not I hope someone can help me with what I should do now as I am panicking about what will happen when she dies.

I haven`t told my mum about this yet, as she has enough to worry about already.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards

Max

getmore4less

The firms stuff will be some where, another solicitors or the SRA should have them

http://www.sra.org.uk/faqs/contact-centre/public/06-interventions/documents.page

might help

pelirocco

you won't be able to use a copy . When my MIL died we thought we had original but turned out to be copy and the probate office said it couldn't be used (luckily original turned up )

If possible you should get her to write a new one

dzug1

It is not totally unknown for a copy to be accepted for probate - but it is unusual and is expensive in legal fees. Certainly not to be relied on


It's more than likely (post #2) that the original will be found.

theoretica

Won't the only difference between the original and the copy be the signatures? Sounds like your mum is mentally able and if she re-signs the copy with witnesses it will turn into an original?

nom_de_plume

My thoughts exactly. If it needs any corrections making then it should probably be retyped and, if the defunct solicitors are named therein, they should be removed and suitably substituted.
It should also be dated with a current date so it supercedes the 'original'

madbadrob

Contact the SFA they will tell you where the papers of the now defunct firm are held. If they dont have the will you will need to have another made because a copy will only be accepted if a court agrees. This is expensive to do. You could just type out the will again and then have two people witness the will and your mum signing the will

ROb