Wills kept at the solicitors

mills112

My FIL has recently moved from North to South UK and his will is kept with his solicitors up north. Should we look into getting this and keeping it or is it fine to leave it with the solicitors up there?

Does the location of the will matter? We don't want to have to travel up north in the event that he passes away, but do we need to or is it all done remotely?

Keep_pedalling

He can request the solicitor release the will to him and store it somewhere more convenient for his executors.

How long ago did he make his will? If it is 10 years or more age then it’s possibly time to make a new one especially if it has things like NRB trusts in them or he has appointed executors of his own generation.

user1977

"North UK" is mostly Scotland…do you mean that, or is this just a move within England?

poseidon1

Definitely get the will sent to your Uncle for him to retain or held in alternative safekeeping.

Law firms are disappearing at an accelerated rate, and there is no gurantee in the event of a firm's closure that they will be an orderly return of client files and permanent documents -

https://www.practicewire.co.uk/news/law-firm-numbers-fall-legal-market-grows

As an alternative to retaining the will at home consider HMCTS safe custody service for a one off £24 fee.

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

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82136530#Comment_82136530

North East England to South East England. 320 miles.

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82136485#Comment_82136485

it was made in 1996. it is a simple will, leaving everything to my MIL and in the event that she is not alive then everything goes to my husband. the addresses of my FIL and my husband have changed but I read that you don't need a new will simply for that. you can add it on as a codicil.

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82137024#Comment_82137024

Who did he appoint as executors?

mills112

EEkkk… so my FIL contacted the solicitors and they said he needs to go to their office with ID and proof of address to pick up the original wills.

If he lives too far away, he will need to instruct a local solicitor to retrieve the will.

I wonder if he might as well create a new one as instructing a local solicitor will be costly to do this. or whether it can be sorted out when it comes to probate through that process?

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82137337#Comment_82137337

my husband is the executor or if he is deceased then the solicitors.

poseidon1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82137401#Comment_82137401

Given that information suggest a new will entirely, removing solicitor firm as back up executors.

Rarely a good idea having solicitors as actual or reserve executors if that can be avoided.

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82137414#Comment_82137414

yeah, as i can see they change and merge all the time so it is not a good idea. not to mention it is a daft idea to keep the will with one of them! at least the will is old so no harm in writing a new one, but it was daft to have kept the will with them in the first place.