Certified copy of will

Keep_pedalling

joesoap1264 said:

Skiddaw1 said:

Mrs_Z said:

Phone around. When I had to post the original will to the Probate office, I wanted to retain a certified copy just in case. Some solicitors would not certify at all, some were charging £5 per page! In the end I got it done with a firm round the corner from me and the kind reception lady did the photocopies for no charge (4 pages). They should not remove any staples etc, but will stamp each page of the photocopy to say it’s a certified copy and sign it.

Yep- that's what I found when I was dealing with the estate of a close friend. It took a few tries but I found a very helpful local firm who did the copies for me.

Am I wrong, or would it be advisable for the last to die to get certified copies, of the original, as well as the usual one given from the solicitor drawing up the will?
Keep them with other stuff for the executors if needed later, on death.?

I think you mean the surviving spouse, but if the will is stored with a solicitor there is no need, and it is perfectly possible by the time the second spouse has died that will will have been superseded by a new one. We just have plane copies of our wills and just about to get new ones made.

SiliconChip

I would try the Post Office. I can't be certain that they will certify a Will but the only documents they list that they can't do are birth, marriage and death certificates. If they can do it the cost is £12.75 for one document.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/document-certification

joesoap1264

Keep_pedalling said:

joesoap1264 said:

Skiddaw1 said:

Mrs_Z said:

Phone around. When I had to post the original will to the Probate office, I wanted to retain a certified copy just in case. Some solicitors would not certify at all, some were charging £5 per page! In the end I got it done with a firm round the corner from me and the kind reception lady did the photocopies for no charge (4 pages). They should not remove any staples etc, but will stamp each page of the photocopy to say it’s a certified copy and sign it.

Yep- that's what I found when I was dealing with the estate of a close friend. It took a few tries but I found a very helpful local firm who did the copies for me.

Am I wrong, or would it be advisable for the last to die to get certified copies, of the original, as well as the usual one given from the solicitor drawing up the will?
Keep them with other stuff for the executors if needed later, on death.?

I think you mean the surviving spouse, but if the will is stored with a solicitor there is no need, and it is perfectly possible by the time the second spouse has died that will will have been superseded by a new one. We just have plane copies of our wills and just about to get new ones made.

We have mirror wills at present.
we have a copy, in the safe.
As we are 81and 76 respectively, me the youngest,when first goes a new one will be made, by surviving spouse,(doubt it will be changed again, , but never say never! )
so when the kids go to fetch the will stored at the solicitors, for probate, get certified copies then , with the original, for bank purposes etc.
nearly all wills are kept with solicitors.
unless they go out of business!

joesoap1264

joesoap1264 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

joesoap1264 said:

Skiddaw1 said:

Mrs_Z said:

Phone around. When I had to post the original will to the Probate office, I wanted to retain a certified copy just in case. Some solicitors would not certify at all, some were charging £5 per page! In the end I got it done with a firm round the corner from me and the kind reception lady did the photocopies for no charge (4 pages). They should not remove any staples etc, but will stamp each page of the photocopy to say it’s a certified copy and sign it.

Yep- that's what I found when I was dealing with the estate of a close friend. It took a few tries but I found a very helpful local firm who did the copies for me.

Am I wrong, or would it be advisable for the last to die to get certified copies, of the original, as well as the usual one given from the solicitor drawing up the will?
Keep them with other stuff for the executors if needed later, on death.?

I think you mean the surviving spouse, but if the will is stored with a solicitor there is no need, and it is perfectly possible by the time the second spouse has died that will will have been superseded by a new one. We just have plane copies of our wills and just about to get new ones made.

We have mirror wills at present.
we have a copy, in the safe.
As we are 81and 76 respectively, me the youngest,when first goes a new one will be made, by surviving spouse,(doubt it will be changed again, , but never say never! )
so when the kids go to fetch the will stored at the solicitors, for probate, get certified copies then , with the original, for bank purposes etc.
nearly all wills are kept with solicitors.
unless they go out of business!

P.s.cannot see any difference when first dies, still may need certified copies if bank a/cs need closing, etc
don’t know which ones do or don’t.

BooJewels

I needed certified copies to cash in my late husband's pensions.  One was only £74 so they didn't even send me forms, but the other 3 all required a certified (later returned) copy of his will.

I think the PO will certify up to 3 documents for their £12.75 fee - so if you're only doing one, do further copies whilst you're at it.

Keep_pedalling

BooJewels said:

I needed certified copies to cash in my late husband's pensions.  One was only £74 so they didn't even send me forms, but the other 3 all required a certified (later returned) copy of his will.

I think the PO will certify up to 3 documents for their £12.75 fee - so if you're only doing one, do further copies whilst you're at it.

That’s odd pensions normally fall out of the estate so any will is e relieving to a pension payout.

BooJewels

They do fall outside the estate for most purposes, but it's presumably to ensure that I was the right person to receive it in the first instance, despite having a completed expression of wishes.  They also sent forms asking for lists of family members, their ages and whether they were financially dependent or not.  I took that to be due diligence in ensuring the funds went to the right person.

Newly_retired

Only one bank wanted a certified copy, but they will also accept Probate, which I am still waiting for. As those copies are much cheaper, I will wait for Probate.