Will Writing 101 Part 4 – I have a will, where do I keep it and who do I tell?

Once you have executed your will and it is a legally binding document, you need to store it safely.

There are some obvious tips to start with, it should be safe from water and fire and accessible in the event of your death.

If a legal professional drafted your will, they may also offer storage services.  They will be legally responsible for it; the contents are not revealed to anyone and it may be a useful choice if you move around a lot.  However, they are likely to charge for this service.

A lot of countries now have dedicated will storage services, easily found on internet search engines.  Cheaper than using your lawyer, they also have decreased liability so you may want to keep a copy yourself in case of loss.

Some legal jurisdictions, such as England and Wales offer a state will registration service.  For a small fee, the will is stored by them.  Only you can remove it during your lifetime and this is by an administrative process.

The simplest solution is to keep your will yourself.  This is free but you must take care to keep the will in pristine condition.  No staples and attachments and no marks or damage as any of these issues may raise suspicion of the wills validity when it is read or processed by court.  Don’t ‘hide’ the will, a locked filing cabinet is a good choice.

NEVER place your will in a safety deposit box.  This can only be opened by the holding bank if a court orders it.  A court cannot order it without your will…  Never store a will in a place that court action would be required to access.

Once your will is in ‘a good place’, you need to tell the people who will have to action it when you die where that is.  Preferably in writing, not just over Sunday lunch or a pint.  Make sure your executor or personal administrator knows where to find your will when they need it.  If they can also find the prepared list of assets and contacts information we discussed in Part 1 and 4 of this series, they will have a much easier job of administering your estate and delivering your legacy.