How can you store your will safely and securely once it has been signed and witnessed?
Once you have finished writing your will, and it has been signed and witnessed by two people, it’s important that you store your will in a safe and secure location. This will help to ensure that it isn’t lost or damaged and can be located by your executor when you pass away.
We usually recommend keeping two versions of your will, a copy in an easy-to-access, memorable location at home, for example, a safety deposit box, and the original signed version in secure, fireproof location away from home, for example, at the National Will Archive. This will ensure that you have a copy to hand, which can be reviewed periodically and can easily located by your loved ones, and the original signed document in a place where is cannot go missing or get damaged.
Here are some additional tips to make sure your will is kept safe and secure:
Invest in a fireproof document box: Your will is an important document, so you need to make sure that it is kept safe. You should store it in a place where it will not be lost or damaged, such as a fire-proof document box.
Avoid storing it with other valuables: If your home get burgled, there is a higher risk that thieves will take your will by mistake if it is stored with other valuable items, such as jewellery or money.
Let your loved ones know where it is: You should let someone know where your will is stored, including your executor and any trusted friends or family members. This will make it easier for them to find your will after your death.
Review it regularly: You should review your will regularly to make sure that it still reflects your wishes. If your circumstances change, such as if you get married or divorced, you may need to make changes to your will.
Alongside your will, it can be tempting to write down bank account details and passwords for your email and social media accounts so that your loved ones can access them if you pass away. We advise not to do this for a number of reasons:
Most banks, social media platforms and email providers have a process in place for family members or authorised representatives to access the account of a deceased person.
The paper could be lost or stolen and your passwords and accounts could be compromised.
You should ideally change your passwords regularly to protect your accounts in case your passwords are compromised. This will render any passwords that are written-down invalid by the time that you pass away.
It is important to be patient and persistent when trying to access the various accounts of a deceased person. The processes can often be time-consuming and frustrating, but that’s because they are designed to prevent fraud and theft.
