I've been appointed sole executor but no access to the will ?

Marcon

Fable1506 said:

My concern is that as and when she passes on, we want to minimise any taxes etc and since I don't have access to the will, I'm at a complete loss what to do!

She has no surviving family/relatives other than my wife ( her daughter ) who was an only child and her husband died in 1973.

Even if you see the will now, there's no saying she won't change it in the future!

There's no action you can take to minimise taxes; the estate will be whatever value it is when she dies. The good news it that it doesn't sound as if IHT will be payable. If your FIL left everything to your MIL when he died, his nil rate IHT band applies to your MIL's estate; and if the property is left to your wife (or your children), there is a further 'nil rate' band applicable.

Reading this might do much to sent your mind at rest on the tax issue: https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/bereavement/what-reliefs-and-exemptions-are-there-inheritance-tax

RAS

You might suggest that the following would be £20 well-spent. Rather than leaving it in the bureau where it could go AWOL if anyone other than her is moving stuff around (perhaps if she needs to move downstairs afer an op say, storing it at the probate Registry.

Secure and accessible Store a will with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

And do suggest sorting LPAs now. She may not be able to do them if her health fails later, and it's a lot easier and cheaper to do when you're able to make the decision yourself rather than your relatives having to apply to the Court.

p00hsticks

RAS said:

You might suggest that the following would be £20 well-spent. Rather than leaving it in the bureau where it could go AWOL if anyone other than her is moving stuff around (perhaps if she needs to move downstairs afer an op say, storing it at the probate Registry.

Secure and accessible Store a will with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

And do suggest sorting LPAs now. She may not be able to do them if her health fails later, and it's a lot easier and cheaper to do when you're able to make the decision yourself rather than your relatives having to apply to the Court.

And hopefully the will is contained in a fireproof box within that bureau.....

theoretica

Though what you say about her wishes in the first post seem to be what would happen if she died without a will - so might not be worth bothering her too much about where the will is stored.