Will Storage

auoq86

Having recently re-written my Will I am looking at storage options for it. The Will Writer has offered to store it for around £20 per year, and I was wondering where others store theirs and if (and how) you have let your Executors know where to find it?

My concern with storing with a Solicitors/Will Writer is that they will endeavour to solicit work when the Executors request the Will. Or that they close down/move location in the meanwhile. Equally, I am not sure storing in a draw somewhere in the house is the best place either....

Keep_pedalling

Your main mistake was using a will writer, solicitors usually store the will for free.

Your best option now would be to lodge the will with the probate service which will be a £29 one off fee.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-deposit-a-will-with-the-probate-service-a-guide-for-people-who-want-to-deposit-a-will-for-safekeeping-pa7

And please make sure you inform your executors that you have done so.

Brynsam

Give your executors photocopies of your will, and make sure you also give them details of where they can find the original - it's the original which will count when it comes to getting probate. Absolutely nothing to stop you including details in the will itself of where the original can be found.

Remember to repeat the exercise whenever you update your will!

auoq86

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Your main mistake was using a will writer, solicitors usually store the will for free.

Your best option now would be to lodge the will with the probate service which will be a £29 one off fee.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-deposit-a-will-with-the-probate-service-a-guide-for-people-who-want-to-deposit-a-will-for-safekeeping-pa7

And please make sure you inform your executors that you have done so.

Thanks for the link to the Probate Service option, am looking at that now. Could I just ask, aside from the storage query - is there any other reason why using a will writer rather than a solicitor was my main mistake?

Keep_pedalling

auoq86 wrote: »

Thanks for the link to the Probate Service option, am looking at that now. Could I just ask, aside from the storage query - is there any other reason why using a will writer rather than a solicitor was my main mistake?

Will writers are unregulated and anyone can claim to be one. In the event of an error that invalidates part or all of the will, any beneficiary who lose out has no come back. This is not the case for a will written by a solicitor.

Will writers may be cheaper but will often tend to try and up sell other services such as annual storage charges or dodgy trusts claiming to protect your assets from care charges in later life.

Larac

I used a will writer when I was married - when I divorced I set up a new will at a local solicitors, who store the will. Luckily I did this as whilst I was doing this the will writer contacted me to say they were giving up being a will writer and to find alternative arrangements for storage.

thegrouch314

I have mine in a lock box at home with my other important documents. The executor has a copy, which I've attached a piece of paper to with the details of where to find the original and the key to the box.The beneficiaries have a copy. I also have a digital copy, in case of a fire or something.

In the future I might store it somewhere else but for the time being my document box is fine.

Keep_pedalling

thegrouch314 wrote: »

I have mine in a lock box at home with my other important documents. The executor has a copy, which I've attached a piece of paper to with the details of where to find the original and the key to the box.The beneficiaries have a copy. I also have a digital copy, in case of a fire or something.

In the future I might store it somewhere else but for the time being my document box is fine.

Those copies are not going to be much use if the original is destroyed, at least not without the approval of court.

joe134

I am going to make new ones shortly, at present they are in the safe at home, however I doubt it is fire proof
So the best advice is to leave with the solicitors , even though they are not the executors?
Do they provide copies for free, or charge ?
How many copies does one normally need besides one each for my executors for other purposes?

Mojisola

joe134 wrote: »

I am going to make new ones shortly, at present they are in the safe at home, however I doubt it is fire proof
So the best advice is to leave with the solicitors , even though they are not the executors?
Do they provide copies for free, or charge ?
How many copies does one normally need besides one each for my executors for other purposes?

The solicitor should give you a copy - you can then photocopy that as often as you need.

Your executors don't need to have a copy but they should know that you have made them executors and which firm of solicitors has the signed original.

joe134

Mojisola wrote: »

The solicitor should give you a copy - you can then photocopy that as often as you need.

Your executors don't need to have a copy but they should know that you have made them executors and which firm of solicitors has the signed original.

Thanks for reply much appreciated.
If solicitor has the will, and is not the executor, if and when the executors (ie. the kids ) , or OH as we are first executors , and kids second on the first death, require it for probate, does the solicitor charge to give it to them / us.
In what instances does the original be required , besides probate, and not a copy ?:beer: