Do you know where your Will is stored?

Laura Parker, Senior Associate Solicitor at Kerseys Solicitors in Woodbridge explains the importance of making a Will, where to store your Will and what to do if you wish to update your Will.

A surprising number of adults in the UK haven’t made a Will – statistics vary but it’s generally accepted that only around a half of adults have made a Will to ensure that their estate is dealt with in accordance with their wishes.

Making a Will allows you to appoint someone appropriate to look after your affairs after your death – your executors. Having the opportunity to appoint executors allows you to choose someone who will be suitable for the job. You will also set out who should inherit your estate, which may be family, friends or charities.

When someone dies without a Will in place, statute sets out who inherits the estate depending on their closest living relatives. These “Rules of Intestacy” aren’t always appropriate for every situation and often mean that a deceased estate is not distributed in accordance with the deceased person’s wishes.

If you already have a Will in place, you should review it occasionally, particularly if your family or financial circumstances change. You must also consider where your original Will is stored. If it was lodged with a solicitor – do you know that it is still safely stored by them? Is the firm still in business? You should check that you know the location of your original Will and that you are able to access it if needed. When a firm of solicitors is taken over, Wills are often moved or sometimes even sold to another firm so it is important to check that you know where your Will and other legal documents are held.

How can Kerseys Solicitors help?

We have a team of experienced Private Client solicitors who offer face-to-face or remote appointments at our offices in Ipswich, Woodbridge and Felixstowe. We are also pleased to offer Will storage for our clients. If your Will is made by another firm or indeed a firm which has been taken over or gone out of business, we are able to offer a Will Review service for a fixed fee which includes storage of your documents.

Established in 1881, Kerseys Solicitors are delighted to have recently expanded into Woodbridge. Working from our new branch office at Deben Mill Business Centre, we are already helping many local clients to ensure that their Wills and other legal documents are up-to-date and stored securely. If you would like advice about your Will, please contact Kerseys Solicitors in Woodbridge on 01394 813732 or email [email protected] or alternatively you can make contact with Kerseys Solicitors in Ipswich at [email protected] or telephone 01473 213311 or Kerseys Solicitors in Felixstowe at [email protected] on 01394 834557 or Kerseys Solicitors in Colchester at [email protected] on 01206 584584 where a member our Private Client law team will be happy with to speak with you.