HELP SOLICITOR LOST MY WIFES WILL- HOW DO i GET A PHOTO COPY ACCEPTED?

bazza950

after 43 years the original solicitor David Lees and Co were bought out ,and the new firm deny all knowledge of my wife's will .I have a good photo copy, but how do i get it "approved" for the Probate Registry?

Hoenir

Original copies need to be certified to be of any use. 

DE_612183

You can apply for letters of administration in lieu of a will...

Keep_pedalling

Bearing in mind how old this will is, the simplest thing to do would be to treat her estate as intestate and if necessary apply for letters of administration. If anyone loses out by doing this you could always make a deed of variation to make sure the estate is distributed as per her wishes.

Are you the main / only beneficiary of the will? Do her sole assets exceed £322k?

Marcon

bazza950 said:

after 43 years the original solicitor David Lees and Co were bought out ,and the new firm deny all knowledge of my wife's will .I have a good photo copy, but how do i get it "approved" for the Probate Registry?

See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-will-is-lost-to-support-a-probate-application

poppystar

In what, if any, respect does the Will vary from what would happen under intestacy? If it is the same then just proceed as if the estate is intestate. I’ve been through the process of getting a copy Will accepted and it is a long and stressful process resulting in a limited grant of probate.  

I assume you’ve checked that you actually need probate to deal with the estate? If money and house are held jointly then it may not be necessary and many banks release quite large sums of money without probate - check with each institution.