i think the system with wills in this country is open to abuse.
the is a registry where you can lodge wills, i know because i did it some years ago, it was in somerset house then. but this is voluntary. although when checking for a will, this would be checked first.
i think it ought to be law for wills to be valid that they are lodged in an official office, with copies elsewhere as desired of course.
there could be exceptions for very recently made wills, but it ought to be the norm for them to be lodge within say a week of being made.
people can make their own wills, which are effective if properly witnessed.
so imagine if mr smith makes a will, without solicitor, properly witnessed, and keeps it in his bedside cabinet.
it leave everything to mrs jones down the road who has helped him in his final years.
he is single, no children. wider family ignored him.
he dies and in walks nephew, goes through house, finds will and burns it.
then claims estate.