Deliberately destroying a will

tetrarch

Giving the will to the daughter seems to be the simplest solution

Regards

Tet

Emmia

Hoenir said:

How to store a will with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/store-a-will-with-the-probate-service/how-to-store-a-will-with-the-probate-service

Already linked to that.

Sea_Shell

Do HMCTS actually take a copy of the will themselves and keep it on record, or just store the will in a sealed envelope?

Does that only prove there was a will, not what was in it.

Emmia

Sea_Shell said:

Do HMCTS actually take a copy of the will themselves and keep it on record, or just store the will in a sealed envelope?

Does that only prove there was a will, not what was in it.

I presume that when the time comes, the will is extracted from the archive and sent to the executors.

user1977

katy123 said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

Lodge will with solicitor.

Solicitors merge, close down, flood, misplace the will....I've heard all sorts

Merger and closure generally result in the wills being passed on to whoever takes over the business - a firm's bank of wills is regarded as a useful asset (because they represent likely future businss).

But again, copying the will (and ensuring survivors know there is a will) can ensure the loss of the principal Will isn't as disastrous.

Mark_d

You can register a will here:

https://www.nationalwillregister.co.uk

Emmia

Mark_d said:

You can register a will here:

https://www.nationalwillregister.co.uk

That's £30 - £10 more than the govt. service

MattMattMattUK

Emmia said:

You can use the central government service to store your will and associated codicils, for a fee of £20 (if it's all in the same envelope)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/store-a-will-with-the-probate-service/how-to-store-a-will-with-the-probate-service

Exactly this, why anyone would do anything else I do not know. 

ProbateNewbie

I'm still having nightmares about this - my Mum who died recently had her original Will at home. My StepF who has been an absolute !!!!!! since she became ill could have quite easily destroyed it & then he'd have been a beneficiary under intestacy law and I think the amounts split between spouse & children under that has changed recently, so if my thinking is right, he'd have: 

a. received money, which she would not have wanted

And

b. received quite a bit more than he'd have done under the old rules. 😯

I was shocked when it turned out the Will I'd been handed was the original, as she had dementia towards the end & it could have quite easily disappeared...

Spendless

Emmia said:

Sea_Shell said:

Do HMCTS actually take a copy of the will themselves and keep it on record, or just store the will in a sealed envelope?

Does that only prove there was a will, not what was in it.

I presume that when the time comes, the will is extracted from the archive and sent to the executors.

I've wondered same thing as Sea Shell as I've talked on here about how our solicitors created the will and then posted it to us for us to get signed and witnessed ourselves (and has no idea if we did this or did it correctly). How does the relatives etc know that the will was stored with HMCTS. Is it a case of you have to tell relatives/beneficiaries in advance or is there an automatic check of this done say as part of probate?