A perfectly drafted, properly witnessed will is no use to anyone if no one can find it when you die. The signed paper original is what counts at probate - photocopies, scans and electronic versions don't have the same standing. So how you store it, and who knows where it is, matters as much as how it was written.
This guide covers every realistic option for storing a will in the UK, what each costs, and the simple things you should do whatever option you pick.
Why the original matters so much
When an executor applies for a grant of probate, the Probate Registry needs the original signed will. If only a copy can be produced - say because the original has been lost or destroyed - probate can sometimes still be granted on a copy, but it's a much harder process: the executor has to apply for permission and may need to satisfy the court that the will wasn't deliberately revoked by the testator destroying it.
There is a presumption in English law that if a will was last known to be in the testator's possession and can't be found at death, the testator destroyed it with the intention of revoking it. That presumption is rebuttable, but it's a costly thing to argue. The simple fix is: don't lose the original.
Option 1 - At home, in a fireproof safe or document box
The most common storage choice. It's free if you already have a safe, and your executors know where to look.
Pros:
- Free or low-cost.
- You can pull it out and read it whenever you want.
- No third party involved.
Cons:
- Fire, flood and theft are real risks. A 30-quid metal "fireproof box" from a high street shop is not the same as a properly rated fireproof safe.
- Family members rummaging through paperwork after a death can lose or accidentally destroy documents.
- If you move house and forget to bring the will with you, it could be lost forever.
If you go this route: use a genuinely fireproof safe (UL or BS-rated), keep the will in a clearly labelled envelope, and tell your executors exactly where to find it.
Option 2 - With a solicitor or will-writing firm
Many solicitors will store an original will for clients, often free of charge if they wrote it. Some specialist will-writing firms also offer paid storage.
Pros:
- Stored in a fire-safe, theft-secure environment.
- Easy for executors to retrieve - they contact the firm with proof of death.
- The firm has a professional duty to keep records.
Cons:
- If the firm closes, merges or moves, the will can become hard to track down. (There is a national register - more on that below.)
- Some firms will only release the will to executors if probate is being arranged through them, which can lead to a feeling of being "tied in" to using their probate service.
- Free storage often comes with the soft expectation that they'll handle the probate work later, which may not be the cheapest option for your estate.
If you choose this route, keep a written note - in your home file, with your executors - saying which firm holds the will.
Option 3 - The official Probate Service wills storage facility
His Majesty's Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) operates a national storage service for original wills in England and Wales. You pay a one-off fee (currently a modest amount, set by HMCTS) and the will is stored at a Probate Registry facility. When you die, your executors apply to retrieve it.
Pros:
- Government-backed, secure, long-term.
- One-off fee, no ongoing cost.
- Independent of any solicitor or will-writing firm.
Cons:
- Slightly less convenient if you want to access the will to update it - you have to formally request its return.
- Some people just don't realise this option exists.
Of the three "physical storage" options, this is the one most often overlooked and the one that most often deserves wider use.
> Just written a fresh will? Whatever storage you choose, Trusted Hands keeps an electronic copy in your account so you can always re-print and re-sign if the original is ever lost. Start free → - only pay when you download.
Option 4 - With a bank
Some high street banks have historically offered will storage, often as part of their probate services. These services are increasingly being wound down. If your bank still offers it, the same pros and cons as solicitor storage apply, with the added risk that the bank may close that line of service entirely and ask you to collect the will.
If a bank is currently storing a will for you, check that they still are. Old bank-stored wills do occasionally turn up "lost" simply because the storage service was discontinued and the customer wasn't told clearly.
Option 5 - The National Will Register (Certainty)
Separately from physical storage, you can register the existence and location of your will on the National Will Register (run by Certainty, in partnership with the Law Society). This isn't where the original is held - it's a database that tells executors where to look.
For a small fee, your will's location is logged. After death, your executors (or anyone administering the estate) can search the register and be told where the original is held. It dramatically reduces the risk of a will being "lost" simply because nobody knew where it was.
This is genuinely useful as a complement to any of the storage options above. It is not a substitute for storing the original in a safe place.
Option 6 - Electronic copies
Digital copies are useful for reference, not for probate. Keep a scanned PDF of the signed, witnessed will in:
- Your secure cloud storage (with two-factor authentication enabled).
- A password manager attachment, for easy retrieval.
- An external encrypted backup.
But understand the limit: at probate, the original signed paper is what counts. The PDF is for your peace of mind and for executors to read in advance, not as a replacement.
If you're using an online will builder, you'll usually have an electronic copy retained in your account by default. If you ever need to update the will, our online will tools make it easy to re-issue and re-sign.
What to do whatever you choose
A few rules apply across every storage option:
- Tell your executors where the will is. A will no one knows about may as well not exist. Send them a short note with the location and any contact details for the storage provider.
- Don't staple, paperclip or tape anything to the will. Probate Registries are sensitive about evidence of tampering. A removed staple or paperclip mark can prompt awkward questions about whether anything has been attached and removed (like a codicil that was later detached).
- Don't write on it after signing. No annotations, no "small changes". Any change to a signed will needs a fresh codicil or, more commonly, a new will.
- Review storage when you move. A will tucked into a filing cabinet that ends up in a loft you forget about is the most common way wills get lost.
- Update the will when life changes - and update the stored version too. A will in your safe from 2008 isn't useful if you've remarried and had a second family since. See our will mistakes guide for what triggers a needed update.
What happens if your will is lost?
It's not always fatal but it's expensive. Executors can apply to the Probate Registry under rule 54 of the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 for permission to admit a copy of the will to probate. They have to satisfy the registrar that:
- A valid will once existed.
- The testator did not revoke it.
- The copy is a true copy.
If the registrar isn't satisfied, the estate is treated as intestate - and the rules in our probate timeline guide and the consequences of intestacy take over.
For complex estates, we recommend you seek assistance from a Trusted Hands Advisor or your own legal advice.
> Ready to start your will? Trusted Hands turns these decisions into a 15-30 minute guided builder. Start free → — only pay when you download.
Frequently asked questions
Should I store my will at home or use a professional service?
Either is fine if done well. Home storage is free but vulnerable to fire, flood, theft and family chaos. Professional storage (solicitor, government service, specialist firm) is more secure but introduces a third party. For most people the government Probate Service storage is the best balance of cheap, secure and independent.
Can I scan my will and keep only the digital copy?
No. The original signed paper is what's needed at probate. Scans are useful for reference and for executors to know what's coming, but they aren't sufficient on their own.
Should I tell my executors what's in the will?
Tell them where it is and that you've made one. You don't have to tell them what's in it, although it can help to flag major decisions (especially if you've left someone less than they might expect). Some testators write a separate "letter of wishes" with explanations and personal messages, which sits with the will.
Is the National Will Register the same as storing the will?
No - the register records the location of the will, not the will itself. It's a complement to storage, not a substitute.
What if my chosen storage provider goes out of business?
Your will should be returned to you, or transferred to a successor firm, with notice. In practice, this doesn't always happen smoothly. The National Will Register helps executors find a will whose original storage location has changed.
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