How to find a will after someone has died

Whilst we often explain that making a Will is something frequently highlighted by good solicitors - an often-overlooked part of the process should be the storage and safe keeping of the Will once it is made.

At Dale & Newbery this mostly forgotten part of the whole Will writing process is explained in detail to give peace of mind as the loss of a Will at a very distressing time can cause terrible stress. We offer to store our clients wills free of charge as part of our Will making process.

It is generally the way that when someone passes away, loved ones look through their paperwork for a Will, but depending on the organisational skills of the deceased person this can be a straightforward matter or the polar opposite. 

As Wills can be stored at the solicitor’s office and the executors named in the Will may have already been given a copy, but this isn’t always the case, and so it is vital that you inform family and loved ones of the location of your Will. This problem can be exacerbated if a person has moved around a lot during their lifetime and not kept all paperwork well organised. 

It is also worth adding that there is currently no compulsory centralised governmental Will register, which details if a Will has been made and where it is stored but one option worth looking at is The National Wills register, but bear in mind that not everyone uses it and its not guaranteed that any Will located will be the latest version.

These issues can mean that relatives have to do the detective work and sometimes a Will is never located meaning the deceased is treated as having died intestate, which is as if they had never made a Will.

This can be life-changing for loved ones, and also means the deceased person’s wishes are never carried out. In an era where family structures have become more complex the problem can be sizeable and may be unresolvable without going to court.

Our simple advice to everyone who has made a Will is to ensure their nearest and dearest and the executors if different know where the document is kept, and we would strongly advise that it should be stored for safekeeping with a trusted local solicitor.

If making a Will or amending one is something you have been meaning to do, or you have any queries surrounding this subject we are happy to help.