Will Storage

paper copies at secure offsite warehouses

a paper copy in your client file

digital copies backed up on multiple secure servers

a photocopy for you, so you always have instant, easy access to your will when you need to review it.

Why You Must Store Your Will Safely

If your will is lost, stolen, or destroyed, it may not be possible to probate (prove) the will. This can lead to a number of problems, including:

Delay in the administration of your estate. Without a valid will, the process of distributing your assets may take longer than if you had a valid will in place.
Disputed among your beneficiaries. Without a clear set of instructions in your will, your beneficiaries may disagree on how your assets should be distributed, leading to costly and time-consuming disputes.
Unintended distribution of your assets. If you do not have a will, your assets will be distributed according to the laws of intestacy. This may result in your assets being distributed to people you did not want to benefit – or in a manner that is not in accordance with your wishes.

To avoid these problems, it is important to store your will in a safe place, such as with a solicitor. If your will is lost, stolen or destroyed, you should consider making a new will as soon as possible to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

Risks Of Storing Your Will In A Bank

There are several potential dangers in using a bank to store your will, including:

Loss or damage. There is a risk that your will could be lost or damaged while it is in the bank’s possession.
Unauthorised access. There is also a risk that your will could be accessed by someone other than the intended recipient, such as a bank employee.
Delay in probate. If your will is stored at a bank, it may take longer to locate and retrieve the will when it is needed for probate. This could delay the administration of your estate. Never store your will in a bank safety deposit box. That is because when you die, the bank can't open the box until the executor gets probate (permission from the court to administer your affairs)…but probate can’t be granted without the will.
Fees. Some banks may make a charge for storing your will.

In England and Wales, it is not a legal requirement to store your will with a bank or other financial institution. You are free to store your will wherever you choose, as long as it is in a safe and secure location.

Danger Of Storing Your Will With An Unregulated Will Writer

Some unregulated will writers charge fees for storing your will as a way of offsetting the discounts they offer to hook you in. And over the years those fees soon mount up!

There are several potential dangers to using an unregulated will writer to store your will, including:

Lack of protection. Unregulated will writers are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as solicitors and other regulated professionals. This means that if something goes wrong, you may not have the same level of protection as you would if you had used a qualified solicitor.
Lack of expertise. Unregulated will writers may not have the same level of knowledge and expertise as regulated professionals, and may not be able to provide you with the same level of service.
No legal duty of care: There is a risk that an unregulated will writer may not act in your best interests.

It is not a legal requirement to use a regulated will writer – such as a solicitor – to prepare your will. However, it is generally considered to be safer and more reliable.

Solicitors are subject to strict professional regulations and codes of conduct, and are required to carry professional indemnity insurance, which provides added protection and peace of mind.

Overall, it is generally recommended to use a regulated lawyer to prepare your will to safeguard your assets and ensure that your wishes are carried out according to your instructions.

Disadvantages Of Using A Professional Will Storage Company

There are a few potential downsides to using a professional will storage company:

Cost. Will storage companies typically charge a fee for their services. This cost may be a deterrent for some people.
Accessibility. Your will may not be as quick and easy to retrieve when needed urgently.
Security. While will storage companies generally take steps to protect the documents they hold, there is always a risk of loss or damage, whether due to natural disasters, fire or theft.
Limited availability. Will storage services may not be available in all areas, which could make it difficult for you to use them if you don’t live in a location where they operate.

Furthermore, it makes sense to store your will with the solicitors who will be advising you. This gives you all the necessary security, the convenience of easy access – and it is free with Coles Miller if you are a client.

Dangers Of Storing Your Will At Home

This is very risky, even if you use a fireproof strong box. Yes, they can protect against fire and smoke fumes (and the water used to put out the blaze).

And in theory, they should deter thieves. But what if the thief is someone you know with access to the strong box? What if they read your will and don’t like the terms – what if they’ve been written out or are destined to receive a lower-than-expected share?

It is not unknown for disgruntled potential beneficiaries to destroy an unfavourable will so that the testator (the person making the will) dies intestate. This would then giving the perpetrator a larger share under the intestacy rules.

If your will is stored at home and is lost or destroyed, it may be difficult or impossible for your wishes to be carried out after your death.

If you lose your will at home, you could die intestate – you have no protection. If the will was stored at another location and is lost, a photocopy may still be legally admissible for probate.

Additionally, if your will is stored at home, it may not be easily accessible to those who need to locate it after your death, which could cause delays and complications in the probate process.

So it is generally recommended that you store your will in a secure location to ensure that it is safeguarded and can be easily located when needed.

What If You Lose Your Will? Presumption Of Revocation

If you lose your will, it is considered to be revoked (cancelled) in the eyes of the law. This is known as Presumption Of Revocation.

If you die without having made a new will (and if no older will can be found), your estate will be divided according to the rules of intestacy. This means that your assets will be distributed to your next of kin in a predetermined order, rather than in accordance with your wishes as stated in your will.

Where Coles Miller Stores Your Will For Free

As we mentioned earlier, we store wills extremely securely:

in a fireproof strongroom at either our Poole or Bournemouth office
backed up by a copy at one of our secure warehouses in Poole and Broadstone
further backed up by digital copies on secure servers
we send you a photocopy of your will with recommendations on who to tell and what to do next to ensure probate goes as smoothly as possible.

Get Expert Legal Advice On Wills And Probate

When considering your will, it is also important to think about matters such as care home funding and powers of attorney. Where loved ones have lost mental capacity, we can help with matters involving the Court of Protection and the Office of the Public Guardian.

For more information, contact Coles Miller’s Probate Department. The team includes solicitors accredited by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly.

What Our Clients Say:

"I would like to say a huge thank you for the way you handled both mine and Neil’s wills and POA. Your help was professional whilst being caring and understanding of our difficult situations. We found you listened to our worries and helped come to a final decisions without making the job too difficult for us. You are a solicitor who I would recommend to any one who was looking for legal advice.

Thanking you for your kindness and the way you treated us which made it all seem easy and without problems."

For Anthony Weber, Partner:

“My husband and I used Anthony Weber at Coles Miller Broadstone to make our wills. He offered a very friendly, approachable service over two comprehensive meetings. We received a commentary alongside our draft wills which made the complex legal language easy to understand. We were able to make some changes at the second meeting and have the wills signed and witnessed then and there. I would highly recommend Mr Weber to all my friends and family."

For Jenny Oxly, Associate Solicitor:

“We recently contacted Coles Miller as our wills needed to be reviewed. As a result we received a home visit from Jenny Oxley who discussed our options and provided us with the wills that were best suited to our needs. The process was completed in a most professional manner and on this basis I would have no hesitation in recommending Coles Miller.”

For Ricky Langlois, Solicitor:

“Ricky Langlois was very easy to talk to. He was patient, clear on his explanation and advice, good interpersonal skills. Ricky did not give me any indication that he was in a hurry and took his time in giving me options and explaining issues to me. He made it clear what would be happening next. If I was not retired from my job, I would give him a job! I would also like to mention that the reception staff were very courteous.”

For Kerry Hay, Solicitor:

“I have been introduced to an amazing young solicitor, Kerry Hay, who has skilfully and patiently helped me step-by-step to arrange my final will and power of attorney so that I am totally confident that when my time comes, my son will have absolutely no problems handling my affairs through Coles Miller, Poole.”

For Julie Morgan, Trainee Legal Executive:

"Many, many thanks for your friendly, highly professional and super efficient service 👍

For Shadi Meehan, Trainee Legal Executive:

"I would like to thank you for providing an excellent service in dealing with the updating of our wills and associated trust. We have dealt with Cole Miller on various occasions since 1984 when our local business purchase was dealt with by Ms Myrtle Eburne. Since then Coles Miller has dealt with our various house purchases and, latterly, dealing with our wills and trust. The most recent occasion was when Shadi Meehan took us through the updating of those will and trust. She was understanding of our needs and requirements and the whole matter was completed efficiently and effectively within a couple of weeks so thanks must go to Shadi. We both like the idea that you store our wills and we have advised our family of this. We shall, of course, use Coles Miller for any future business".

For Emma Stagg, Trainee Legal Executive:

"I would like to thank for assisting me with making my will. I found you and all your colleagues very pleasant and helpful. The job was very professional and would recommend you to anyone.".