Will Storage question

katy123

Hi all, have a Will Storage question hope you can help with - I spoke to the HMCTS (HMCourts & Tribunal services) regarding Will Storage service and it’s directed to their helpline which couldn’t answer my question, I wonder if anyone had experience with them and if so would you know:

We am looking to store our Wills using the HMCTS service, either postal or bringing it down to their local Probate Office:

1.            Once the lodgement certificate is received, is the Will entered into some sort of register? Reason we are asking is that if any executors / replacement executors are unaware of where the Will is, can they search it with ease?

2.            If the lodgement certificate is lost, will there be a cost to re-issue this?

Keep_pedalling

No doubt there is a method of retrieving a will where the certificate is lost but it is not something an executor can do with a simple on line search. Surely it is in your hands to prevent it happening.make sure your executors are aware of where the will is stored and lodge a copy of the certificate with them.

Mojisola

katy123 said:

Hi all, have a Will Storage question hope you can help with - I spoke to the HMCTS (HMCourts & Tribunal services) regarding Will Storage service and it’s directed to their helpline which couldn’t answer my question, I wonder if anyone had experience with them and if so would you know:

We am looking to store our Wills using the HMCTS service, either postal or bringing it down to their local Probate Office:

1.            Once the lodgement certificate is received, is the Will entered into some sort of register? Reason we are asking is that if any executors / replacement executors are unaware of where the Will is, can they search it with ease?

2.            If the lodgement certificate is lost, will there be a cost to re-issue this?

Yes.  We've just done this and you get a 'Certificate of deposit of will' which lists the testator's name and address and the names and addresses of the executors.  The certificate has a Record Keep Reference number.

We've given copies of the certificate to our executors, have the originals at home with copies of our wills and have also listed the reference number elsewhere 'just in case'. 

The info about retrieving the will is here -

www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-withdraw-a-will-from-storage-with-hmcts/how-to-withdraw-a-will-stored-with-hmcts