Money Saving Tip: If you don't have complex requirements such as the need to create trusts or leave a family business you could save money by Making Your Will Online.

Once your Will has been drawn up, signed, dated and witnessed, it should be kept in a safe, easy to access place, as it is a very important legal document. There is no legal requirement to store your Will with a government department or registry office, and it is up to you to decide on the best place to store your Will.

There are a number of options available for storing your Will, listed below:

• At the Principal Probate Registry
• With a solicitor
• At a bank
• At a storage facility
• In a safe place at home

At the Principal Probate Registry

It is also possible to deposit your Will and any codicils with the High Court and have it stored at the Principal Probate Registry at the following address. The Probate Department, The Principal Registry of the Family Division, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6NP Tel: 020 7947 6948

There is a one-off charge for storing your Will with the High Court.

You can find more information on how to store your Will with the probate department on their website.

www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1218.htm
 

With a Solicitor

Most solicitors offer fireproof storage for your Will for a small fee. Storing your Will with a solicitor is ideal if you want the solicitor to be your executor. However, some people prefer to store their Will with the principal registry office, as solicitors can sometimes move offices or cease trading, and this could make your Will difficult to locate when it is needed.

At a bank

Some banks offer secure storage facilities and provide clients with the option of storing their Will for a small fee of around £10-25 per year. However, it can be time-consuming for a loved one to access a Will that is stored at a bank. Often people have more than one bank account, and this can lead to confusion if the executor is not informed of exactly where the document is being stored.

At a storage facility

There are a number of private companies offering insured storage services for Wills and codicils. The fees vary depending on the level of subscription chosen. Some companies charge an annual fee for storage, and this enables you to update your Will for no extra charge.

In a safe place at home

If you choose to keep your Will at home, there is no guarantee that it will be protected from fire, theft, flooding or pests. In addition, it must be accessible to the executor. If you do decide to store your Will at home you will need to tell someone you trust where you have put it, so that it can be found when you die. This is very important, because if the original, signed Will were not found, your estate would normally be treated as if you had died intestate, and your assets might not be distributed as you would have wished.

Wherever you choose to store your Will, it is essential that you store it in a safe place and make the executor aware of where the document is and how they can access it.

Money Saving Tip: If you don't have complex requirements such as the need to create trusts or leave a family business you could save money by Making Your Will Online.