There is no law dictating where a Will should be kept. It is entirely up to you what you want to do about storing your Will, but here are some things to consider when making this decision.
Wherever you choose to store your Will, it should be somewhere that is protected from:
- Flood
- Fire
- Theft
- Damage
Wherever it is kept, your Executors should be made aware of the location so that when it is needed, they can find it with ease. Some banks will offer a storage facility to their customers as will most Solicitors and Estate Planners.
Wherever you keep your Will, it is critical not to staple it, use a paperclip, or put anything else on it that may mark it, as this may cause problems for your Executors when obtaining the Grant of Probate. Similarly, if you keep your Will at home and it is stolen or lost before you pass away, it can be assumed that your Will was destroyed by you and no longer applies. In these instances, your Estate will pass under the laws of intestacy, and you will have no control over who receives your assets.
At MWQ Estate Planning, we partner with Kings Court Trust, an industry leading professional firm who specialise in Estate Administration and Probate and they also have a storage facility whereby legal documents are held in a deposit box which is only accessed by a limited number of staff and is protected from fire, flood, theft, general damage and also damage caused by natural gases.
If this is something you would like to know more about, please get in touch with us today on 0800 090 3051.
