Wills Storage
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Wills Storage
Sanjiv Sachdeva explains how and where to store your Will.
Why store your Will?
Your Will is very important. If it were accidentally damaged, destroyed, altered or lost, that would invalidate it and leave your estate vulnerable.
If your executors cannot find your Will when you pass away, you’ll be deemed to have died intestate and your beneficiaries may lose out. So it’s a valuable document which needs looking after.
A Will outlines your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets and the care of your dependents after your death, so storing your Will ensures that these intentions are preserved and can be carried out as you intended.
Very importantly, storing your Will in a secure location reduces the risk of tampering, alteration or fraud. Knowing that your Will is stored safely provides peace of mind that your wishes will be respected and your loved ones will be taken care of according to your instructions.
It also alleviates concerns about the security and integrity of the document. That’s why at Will Power storage is an integral part of the services we offer.
Where should a Will be stored?
Storing your Will in a safe and accessible location is crucial to ensure that it can be easily located and executed according to your wishes after your death. At Will Power we take responsibility for your Will.
It’s covered by our £2 million professional indemnity insurance. You will be issued with a copy of your Will to keep at home and your executors will receive a letter explaining where your original Will is stored and the procedure for releasing it.
In addition to your Will you can also store any other documents, such as lasting powers of attorney, deeds, lists of assets and policy documents in our secure storage vaults. They are climate controlled and regulated for temperature, airflow, moisture and dust to preserve your documents for many years to come.
The vaults are protected by fire and intruder alarm systems and CCTV cameras and electronic access controls ensure the safety and security of your document. Finally, computer controlled file history and tracking ensures that your documents can be quickly and efficiently retrieved when you need them.
We also don’t charge you to add or remove documents when you need them from storage in the future.
Can I store my Will at home?
If you are going to use a personal safe, make sure it’s fireproof and waterproof to protect the document from damage. It’s crucial to inform your executor and trusted individuals of the safe’s location and how to access it.
You need to make sure that the Will is available prior to probate being granted – so don’t keep it in a bank safety deposit box in your sole name. In that situation when you die, the bank will be unable to open your box until your executor provides probate – and probate cannot be approved without the Will.
Let your executors and family know in writing where it is stored, as it’s easy to forget verbal instructions.
Finally, don’t attach any other documents to the Will. Even staples, paper clips or other marks on your Will could be taken to indicate that the Will is missing a section or an amendment has been made. That may cause difficulties for your executors in the future.
Speak To an Expert
We talk to you about who you would like to benefit and in what amounts, including specific gifts and any charitable legacies, and then help you create the will itself.
Who keeps the original copy of a Will in the UK?
There’s no legal requirement dictating who should keep the original copy of a Will. However, there are several common practices.
The person who creates the Will – the testator – may choose to keep the original copy themselves which is then their responsibility. Many people entrust the original copy of their Will to us here at Will Power, as we help draft the document and offer secure storage facilities.
Some individuals choose to give the original copy of their Will to their chosen executor for safekeeping. This option ensures that the person responsible for executing the estate has immediate access to the document when needed. Ultimately, the decision of who keeps the original document in the UK depends on the testator’s preferences, circumstances and level of trust in the chosen individual.
Should I tell my executor where my Will is?
Always inform your executor of the location of your Will. Your executor plays a crucial role in administering your estate after your death. Knowing the whereabouts of the Will ensures that they can access it promptly when needed.
How much does it cost to store a Will?
We offer a one-time fee for secure storage for life and details are on our website.
Do banks charge to store a Will?
Banks typically charge a fee for storing Wills in a safe deposit box. The cost can vary depending on the bank and the size of the box. It’s essential to enquire about any associated fees before choosing this option – and make sure your executors can get access.
How much do solicitors charge to store a Will?
Some solicitors include Will storage as part of their estate planning packages, while others may charge a separate fee. The cost can depend on the duration of storage and any additional services provided.
Can I store my Will for free?
Free options for Will storage include keeping the original Will at home or entrusting it to a trusted family member. While these won’t incur any direct cost, these methods may not provide the same level of security as the professional storage services we offer.
How do I store or organise storage for my Will?
The obvious one is to talk to us here at Will Power. But otherwise when storing your Will, the main steps are to select a secure location and then inform your executor and trusted family members of the location of the Will.
Always keep copies of the Will in separate locations as backups, and review and update the storage arrangements periodically to ensure they remain current, effective and safe.
What happens after I have stored my Will?
After storing your Will you should inform your executor and trusted family members of its location. It’s also essential to review and update your Will as needed, to reflect any changes in circumstances or preferences. Periodically check the storage arrangements to ensure the Will remains accessible and secure.
Is there anything else we need to know about Will storage?
At Will Power, we offer a combined package for a simple Will with storage for a one-off fee. This can be combined with an aftercare option, whereby you can make as many changes as you wish to a simple Will without incurring repeat fees.
See also our full Will Aftercare Service which includes Will Storage. Without our Aftercare service you would need to pay for any amendments you wish to make to your Will.
You can also take advantage of a 20% discount on any additional services, for example completing Lasting Powers of Attorney or Grant Of Probate.
Will Storage Services
Why Store Your Will?
Can you keep your Will safe from being accidentally damaged, destroyed, altered or lost?
Your new Will is very important and any of the above would invalidate it and leave your estate vulnerable. It is a valuable document which needs looking after.
If your Executors cannot find your Will when you pass away then you will deemed to have died intestate and your beneficiaries may lose out.
Storing Your Will & Lasting Powers Of Attorney With Will Power
Will Power will take legal responsibility for your Will (covered by our £2 million Professional Indemnity Insurance).
You will be issued with a copy Will for you to keep at home. You and your Executors will receive a document explaining where your original Will is stored and the procedure for releasing it.
Lasting Powers of Attorney can be registered, ready for use by your attorneys without delay and kept safely so that there is no fear of them being used without your permission while you have capacity.
Your Will and any other documents such as Lasting Powers of Attorney, deeds, list of assets, policy documents etc., can be stored in our secure storage vault which offers:
Will Protection
Each climate-controlled vault is regulated for temperature, airflow, moisture and dust to preserve your documents for many years to come.
Will Security
State of the art fire and intruder alarm protection, CCTV camera cover and electronic access controls ensure the safety and security of your documents.
Will Tracking
Computer-controlled file movement history and tracking ensures your documents can be quickly and efficiently retrieved, whenever you need them.
There is no charge to add or remove your documents from storage in the future, and these will always be delivered to you by Special Delivery for security.
Speak To an Expert
Will Storage Service Hints & Tips
- Keep it somewhere safe and secure where it won’t be damaged, destroyed, altered or lost.
- Ensure your Executors know where to find your Will and how to access it.
- Confirm that it will be available prior to Probate being granted.
- Let your Executors and family know in writing where it is stored as it’s easy to forget verbal instructions.
- Do not keep your will in a bank safety deposit box. When you die, the bank will be unable to open your box until your Executor receives probate and probate cannot be approved without the will.
- Do not attach other documents to the will. Even staples, paperclips or other marks on your will could be taken to indicate some part of the will is missing a section or an amendment. This may cause difficulties for your Executors in the future.
How Much Does Will Storage Cost?
Storage Service Only
£250+vat (Single) or £400+vat (Couple)
Standard Wills & Storage
£300+vat (Single) or £500+vat (Couple)
See also our full Will Aftercare Service which includes Will Storage. Without our Aftercare service you would need to pay for any amendments you wish to make to your Will.
You can also take advantage of a 20% discount on any additional services, for example completing Lasting Powers of Attorney or Grant Of Probate.
