Lost original will

rosiedosy

Hi my stepdad just died.While I  was sorting out my Mums finances I noticed even though they had both made wills ,only the unsigned copies of the wills could be found.The company that made the wills nolonger exists.Will the copy of my Mums will  be legal when she dies .Thank you 

JGB1955

No.  It needs to be signed and witnessed.

rosiedosy

The copy of the will we have for Mum does not say it's a copy.So would we be able to use it if it was signed and witnessed We can not find the firm that made the wills ,it nolonger seems to exist. I do have a signed power of attorney  from the same will making firm .The firm was called Wills To Trust .

JGB1955

http://willstotrustnorthwest.co.uk/index.html

p00hsticks

It's usual I think for the Will making company/solicitors to retain the original signed wills, and just leave an unsigned copy with the clients for easy reference.  

rosiedosy

JGB1955 said:

http://willstotrustnorthwest.co.uk/index.html

Thank you so much I  have been trying to find this company for 2 weeks. I've  sent them an email so fingers crossed.

naedanger

rosiedosy said:

Hi my stepdad just died.While I  was sorting out my Mums finances I noticed even though they had both made wills ,only the unsigned copies of the wills could be found.The company that made the wills nolonger exists.Will the copy of my Mums will  be legal when she dies .Thank you 

I would be very wary of doing this especially if there is any chance someone might later challenge the will.
Your mother would need to date the will at the date she actually signs it. Therefore the will might seem odd if it is leaving money to someone (your step-father) who is deceased at the date the will was signed. Furthermore are you sure the will doesn't have a date written in long-hand somewhere e.g something likw this tenth day of September Two Thousand and Twelve.

Unless the estate if not worth much then I would get the will rewritten by a solicitor, again especially if there is any chance it might be challenged or says anything others might find contentious.