Does signing a copy of a lost original will make the copy acceptable as a valid will?

bryn23

My wife and I had simple Mirror Wills drawn up by a wills company about 10 years ago. We have photocopies but not the originals, which were given to the wiils company for starage. This company has disappeared and  never billed us for storage,  so we don't have the originals. If we were to re-sign and have our signatures witnessed using the coppies, would they be recognised as valid wills?

pjs493

It’ll be easier to write new Wills. That way you can be sure they are valid and, given it’s been ten years since you wrote your Wills, it’s probably a good time to check over things and update if needed. Use one of the charity Free Wills Network schemes. 

Marcon

bryn23 said:

My wife and I had simple Mirror Wills drawn up by a wills company about 10 years ago. We have photocopies but not the originals, which were given to the wiils company for starage. This company has disappeared and  never billed us for storage,  so we don't have the originals. If we were to re-sign and have our signatures witnessed using the coppies, would they be recognised as valid wills?

Yes, provided they are dated with the date when you re-signed, and properly witnessed (don't need to be the same witnesses as before).