Will not stored at solicitor

spenderdave

I should soon be updating my will but in the meantime...
My will, written a long time ago, had my brother and the solicitor who arranged it as executors. Over the years that firm of solicitors retired, it got passed to another local one, then that one went into receivership. Six months later I got told that it was now lodged with a solicitor the other end of the country... so I arranged with them to have the will original returned to me, which I now have.

In the unlikely event that I die before I sort out rewriting it via a more local solicitor (hopefully I have another 20 years left in me...) is it still valid while I have it in my possession rather than at a registered solicitor? The will is basically still correct, though some married names need adding, I need to add some charity giving clauses and of course it refers to a now non-existent solicitor.

By the way, is this the correct part of the forum to discuss wills, there doesn't seem to be a specific one.

Thanks.

lincroft1710

Of course it's valid.

A will does not even have to be drawn up by a solicitor, but it is advisable to have it done so

t0rt0ise

You don't have to have a solicitor as executor either. Much cheaper not to. They charge a fortune and take a long time to sort things out and administer the estate.

spenderdave

Thanks, more or less as I thought. When Mum died a few years ago we didn't involve a solicitor other than collecting the will from them ('let us know if we can be of help'..). Need to ask my nieces and nephew if they will be executors as my brother is 3 years older than me and it doesn't seem sensible to leave just him and a solicitor as executors. IHT etc will certainly be involved in my case so whoever sorts it out it won't be straightforward.

badger09

spenderdave wrote: »

Thanks, more or less as I thought. When Mum died a few years ago we didn't involve a solicitor other than collecting the will from them ('let us know if we can be of help'..). Need to ask my nieces and nephew if they will be executors as my brother is 3 years older than me and it doesn't seem sensible to leave just him and a solicitor as executors. IHT etc will certainly be involved in my case so whoever sorts it out it won't be straightforward.

That sounds sensible. If possible, choose two or three of them who get along together, are organised and would be able to do it. There is no need to have a solicitor as Executor, in fact most posters on here advise against it.

It would also be a good idea to make sure your finances are well documented so their task is not too daunting when the time comes;)