Will storage

Is the will you did at the will writing service the same as a will done at a solicitors ? Hopefully your will won’t ever be challenged but if it were would your will prove to be legal ?

Did our own via an online service. Now stored in metal cabinet along with POA original which must be registered. Copies to Attorneys.

We have ours stored at the solicitors (no charge )with a copy safely kept at home. On the subject of storage, where do people keep their house deeds after paying off the mortgage?

I need to update my will as I haven't changed it since my divorce. The current one is stored with the solicitor who drafted it and there is no charge. I have a copy in a metal 'home file'.

Will writing services are cheap because they rely on people using their storage facilities to make their money. Mine is at home byt the way.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mine is a very straightforward will and is kept in a pink box with smiley faces on and the slogan “when I snuff it” Also have my insurance and a few other things in that box. I did have a solicitor will which cost me £176 but with all the jargon I just didn’t like it so bought one for £9.99 from Smiths and did it myself as I say it is quite straightforward and my three children are aware of where this box is...??

mines in my document folder.

I had mine done with a solicitor and they have a copy stored with them but there's no charge.

We have the copy of ours in our fireproof safe at home, and the original is at the public notary, which is common here, so it cannot disappear, as when one of us dies and the death is registred the will automatically appears on the state computer, or rather the fact that there is one does.

Ours is in DS's safe and we have a copy. I don't think it matters much as long as the people who will need to see it know where the original is.

I keep a spreadsheet of where our money is and all the paperwork is filed and labelled. I have written a list of practicalities to be done which includes a few things I would like done at my funeral.

We haven't made one yet. I suppose we should. But I wouldn't pay someone to store it for me.

The original is stored at the solicitors l used, to actually draw up the will. This costs nothing. No solicitor l have ever used made a charge for storing the original Will.
I asked for two copies. One for myself and one to give to my 1st executor. No charge for these either, all part of the service.

We once used a cheaper option which a Building Society recommended.
When we arrived for our appointment it was rep the same young man we saw when we were dealing with outer Building Society Account.
He really didn't have a clue.
Then we did what we should have done in the first place.
We went to a Solicitor .
Our Wills are stored there and we have copies at home too.
You tend to get what you pay for.

Having said that ,if you copies at home and spare copies with your children if you wish ,that should be good enough.

Ours is in a metal box that my dad bought years ago. The family know where to find it.

Our will, made 30 years ago, is stored at solicitors and we keep a copy in the safe at home.
As far as I know we are not charged for storage and yes they moved their office a few years ago.
We have just used the same solicitor for the sale of our home in the Lakes, he did the paperwork when we bought it and drew up our wills. Good to know he is still working.

Ours are stored at the solicitors' office for no charge; however, they did move offices without informing their clients. As they hadn't moved far, we realised and after about 18 months of no message, we rang and asked to see our wills just to make sure they still had them safely stored. They did.

Do not have anything of value, just odd bits & pieces. So have a ‘budget’ will made out years ago just to make sure things that family have asked for go to them. Nothing for the State to get as no money now. Son has it in with all his family documents!

Yes, the original will along with the ink signitures of the people who witnessed and signed it at the office where it was made will need to be produced. The Solicitor will normally store the original copy for free, and produce it when a copy of the Death certificate of the person whos will.it was is handed over to him. The probate office will not act on a photocopy alone.
There are a fair few schemes around that provide a proffesionally written will via a Solicitor in exchange for a small donation to a charity that have aranged to be part of this scheme. These wills have all the benefits of one written at full price by a Solicitor, and are fully approved by the Law Society. My Daughter made hers through the McMillan Scheme, My Son in Law used a Scheme set up by the local Air Ambulance Charity. Both wills are stored by the Solictor that made them, saving any worries should a security box at home get lost or stollen. The Solicitor not also registers a copy of the Will with the office of the Law Society. The donation needed to enter this scheme is around £50 to £100, but you an include a larger legacy in your will if you so wish.

Another one for storing at solicitors for no charge.

We did ours when Will Aid was offering a deal. They used to do it every November but not sure if they still do. A solicitor came to our house & did a great job. He worked in London but lived locally.
We did mirror wills & I keep them in a drawer with things like passports & birth certificates etc.

Thank you, everyone, for your fulsome responses.
I thought perhaps it was me being a bit stingy not wanting to pay the yearly storage fee.
I’m going to contact Probate services plus take copies and give to my sons.
As a matter of interest, when the Will eventually needs to be produced, will only the original suffice? I’m always a bit twitchy about loosing documents.
Cheers

At home in a box with all important paperwork so both dds know where it is.

My Will was written by local solicitor and is held in their vault free of charge.

I’ve never known any solicitors to charge for storing Wills they drafted, even if they are not written in to act in due course.

Advised my Executor and son and provided copy of same.

I plan (good intentions here) to list bank accounts, credit cards, utilities details, and all necessary information. Photo copies and/or screen prints might make life easier for you here - maybe. Plus my favourite music, etc., for the service. This can then be placed in file at home. I can’t afford pre-payment funeral but I thought I should do as much as I can to help.

Trust this assists you.

Our wills are just kept in a box at home where our other "important papers" are kept. Our daughter knows where it is.