Where to Store Your Will in the UK: The Complete Guide

The safest place to store a will in the UK is the Probate Registry. It costs a one-off fee of £11, is fireproof and flood-proof, and your executors can retrieve it easily after your death by presenting a death certificate. The second-best option is with the solicitor who drafted it, which is often free. Never store the only copy of your will in a bank safe deposit box.

You have made a will. That puts you ahead of 54% of UK adults who have not. But here is a statistic that should concern you: 29% of people who have a will have not told anyone where to find it, according to research by the National Will Register.

A will that cannot be found is as useless as no will at all. Your family will have to apply for probate as if you died intestate. Your wishes, your guardianship choices for your children, your specific bequests: none of it matters if the document is sitting in an unknown drawer or locked in an inaccessible box.

This guide covers every storage option available in the UK, with costs, step-by-step instructions, and the one option you should never use.

The 5 Will Storage Options at a Glance

Option	Cost	Security	Ease of Access After Death	Verdict
Probate Registry	£11 one-off	Excellent (government-backed)	Easy: executors request with death certificate	Best overall
Solicitor storage	Often free	Excellent	Good: contact the firm	Very good
At home (fireproof safe)	£50 to £200 for the safe	Good (if fireproof)	Immediate, if executor knows where	Good with backup
National Will Register	£40 one-off	N/A (registry, not storage)	Helps locate the will	Useful add-on
Bank safe deposit box	£100 to £500/year	Excellent	Very difficult: box is sealed on death	Avoid

1. The Probate Registry (Best Option)

The Probate Registry, officially the Principal Registry of the Family Division, is the most secure place to store a will in the UK. It is a government service specifically designed for this purpose.

How it works

You post your original, signed will to the Registry. They store it in secure, climate-controlled facilities. When you die, your executors contact them with a death certificate, and the will is released.

The entire service costs £11. One payment, no annual fees, no renewal. Your will is stored for the rest of your life.

Step-by-step: how to deposit your will

Place your original signed will in an envelope. Do not fold it if possible (use A4 or larger envelope).
Write a covering letter with your full name, date of birth, and address.
Include a cheque or postal order for £11, payable to "HM Courts & Tribunals Service".
Post everything to:

Principal Registry of the Family Division First Avenue House 42-49 High Holborn London WC1V 6NP

Within 2 to 3 weeks, you will receive a deposit certificate with a unique reference number.
Keep this certificate somewhere safe and give the reference number to your executor.

Why this is the best option

The Probate Registry offers security that no other option can match. Your will is stored in government-controlled facilities, protected from fire, flood, theft, and loss. There are no annual fees, no risk of the storage provider going out of business, and no danger of the will being sealed behind a probate catch-22 (unlike a bank safe deposit box).

After your death, the process is straightforward. Your executor contacts the Registry, provides a death certificate and identification, and the will is released. Even if your executor does not have the deposit reference number, the Registry can search by your name and date of birth.

Updating your will

If you make a new will, you have two options:

Withdraw the old will and deposit the new one (another £11).
Deposit the new will alongside the old one. The Registry will hold both, and the most recent valid will takes precedence.

Either way, inform your executor that a new will has been deposited.

2. Solicitor Storage

If a solicitor drafted your will, they will almost always offer to store it. Many do so for free as part of the will-writing service.

Typical costs

Free: Many firms store wills they drafted at no charge, indefinitely.
Annual fee: Some firms charge £10 to £30 per year for ongoing storage.
Retrieval fee: A small number of firms charge £50 to £100 when executors collect the will after death.
Combined will-writing and storage: Often included in the original fee (typically £150 to £500 for the will itself).

Advantages

Solicitor storage is professional and secure. Law firms are required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to maintain proper systems for storing client documents. The original will is kept in a secure location, typically a fireproof safe or vault, with controlled access.

Your executor can contact the firm after your death, present a death certificate, and retrieve the will. The process is usually straightforward.

The risk: what if the firm closes?

This is the main drawback. Solicitor firms close, merge, restructure, and get acquired. If the firm holding your will ceases to exist, what happens to your document?

The SRA requires that when a firm closes, client files including wills are transferred to the new firm (if merged) or returned to clients. In practice, documents can be misplaced during these transitions. It does happen.

To mitigate this risk:

Keep your own certified copy of the will.
Register with the National Will Register so the will can be traced.
Check periodically that the firm still exists and has your will on file.
If you hear your solicitor is closing or merging, contact them immediately to confirm your will is being transferred.

Questions to ask your solicitor

Before leaving your will with them, ask:

Is storage included free, or is there an annual charge?
What is the retrieval fee for executors?
Where are wills physically stored (on-site safe, off-site vault)?
What happens to stored wills if the firm closes or merges?
Will the will be registered with the National Will Register?
Can I retrieve my will at any time if I want to move it?

3. Storing Your Will at Home

Keeping your will at home is the simplest option, and it works if you take the right precautions. The key risks are fire, flood, loss during a house move, and your family simply not knowing where to look.

How to store a will safely at home

Use a fireproof safe. This is non-negotiable. A standard filing cabinet or desk drawer offers no protection against fire. Look for a safe with at least a one-hour fire rating for documents (UL Class 350). These cost between £50 and £200.

Use a waterproof container inside the safe. A zip-lock bag or waterproof document pouch adds a second layer of protection. Floods can damage documents even inside a safe if water seeps through seals.

Label it clearly. Write "LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT" on the envelope. Do not hide it among random papers.

Tell your executor exactly where it is. Be specific: "The fireproof safe is in the study, bottom shelf of the bookcase. The combination is..." This information should be in a letter of wishes or shared verbally with your executor.

The backup plan

Home storage should always be paired with a backup:

Store a certified copy with a solicitor or the Probate Registry.
Register with the National Will Register.
Give a copy (clearly marked "COPY, NOT THE ORIGINAL") to your executor.

A certified copy is a photocopy that has been signed by a solicitor or the will-maker confirming it is a true copy of the original. While probate courts prefer the original, a certified copy can be used if the original is lost and there is evidence it was not intentionally destroyed.

What not to do

Do not store your will in a drawer or filing cabinet. No fire protection, easily overlooked.
Do not store it in a loft or garage. Temperature and humidity fluctuations damage paper over time.
Do not store it folded. Folding can obscure text and damage the document.
Do not attach anything to the will with paperclips or staples. Probate courts may interpret removed staple marks as evidence that pages were removed, which can raise validity questions.
Do not write on the will after signing. Any marks or notes on the original will can cast doubt on its validity.

4. The National Will Register

The National Will Register is not a storage facility. It is a database that records where your will is stored, so it can be found after your death.

How it works

You register your will, noting where it is stored (at home, with a solicitor, with the Probate Registry, etc.).
After your death, executors, solicitors, or family members can search the register.
The register tells them where to find the will.

Cost

Registration costs £40 as a one-off fee. Some will-writing services include registration in their package.

When it is valuable

The National Will Register is most useful in these situations:

You store your will at home and want a backup trail so it can be found.
You have changed solicitors and want to ensure the will is traceable regardless of which firm holds it.
Your family does not know you have a will. Even if you have not told anyone, a solicitor handling probate can search the register.
You have multiple wills (for example, one covering UK assets and another for overseas assets). The register helps executors find all of them.

Limitations

The register is only as good as its awareness. Not every solicitor handling probate thinks to search it, though awareness is growing. It does not replace physical storage. Think of it as insurance against the will being lost or forgotten.

5. Bank Safe Deposit Box (Avoid for Wills)

Bank safe deposit boxes are excellent for storing jewellery, deeds, and valuables. They are terrible for storing wills.

The catch-22

When you die, the bank seals your safe deposit box. Nobody can access its contents until probate is granted by a court. But to apply for probate, your executors need to present the original will.

Your will is locked in the box. The box cannot be opened without probate. Probate cannot be granted without the will. This circular problem creates months of delay and significant stress for your family.

What executors have to do

Contact the bank and explain the situation.
Provide a death certificate and proof of their identity.
Some banks allow supervised access, where a bank employee opens the box and the executor can take only the will. Not all banks offer this.
If the bank refuses access, the executor may need to apply to the court for an order granting access. This involves legal fees and waiting time.
Even in the best case, the process takes weeks to months.

During this time, your family cannot access your estate. Bills pile up. The mortgage still needs paying. If your partner relies on your income, they are stranded without financial support.

The cost

Safe deposit boxes cost between £100 and £500 per year, making them the most expensive storage option by far. The cost continues every year for the rest of your life.

Compare this to the Probate Registry (£11 once) or solicitor storage (often free). There is no financial logic to using a safe deposit box for a will.

The only exception

If the safe deposit box is in joint names with someone who survives you (typically your spouse or partner), they can access it immediately after your death without waiting for probate. However, this creates other complications:

What if they die first? The box reverts to being in your sole name, and the problem returns.
What if you separate? You may not want an ex-partner to have access to your will.
What if they are incapacitated? They would need a Lasting Power of Attorney to access the box, adding another layer of complexity.

The verdict is clear: never store the only copy of your will in a bank safe deposit box. If you already do, retrieve it and deposit it with the Probate Registry instead.

How Much Does It Cost to Store a Will?

Here is a full breakdown of will storage costs in the UK:

Storage Method	One-off Cost	Annual Cost	Retrieval Cost	Total Over 30 Years
Probate Registry	£11	None	None	£11
Solicitor (free storage)	None	None	£0 to £100	£0 to £100
Solicitor (paid storage)	None	£10 to £30	£0 to £100	£300 to £1,000
Home (fireproof safe)	£50 to £200	None	None	£50 to £200
National Will Register	£40	None	N/A	£40
Bank safe deposit box	None	£100 to £500	None	£3,000 to £15,000

The Probate Registry is the clear winner on cost. At £11 for a lifetime of secure, government-backed storage, it is difficult to justify any other option purely on price.

If you want belt-and-braces protection, the best combination is:

Probate Registry for the original (£11)
National Will Register to record the location (£40)
Certified copy at home for reference (free)

Total lifetime cost: £51.

What to Tell Your Family

Storing your will securely is only half the job. Your family needs to know where it is.

Your executor must know

At an absolute minimum, your executor needs to know:

That you have a will.
Where the original is stored.
Who drafted it (the solicitor or will-writing service).
Where any copies are kept.
The Probate Registry deposit reference (if applicable).

Consider also telling

Your spouse or partner.
Adult children.
A trusted friend or family member who is not named in the will (as a neutral backup).
Your solicitor, even if they do not hold the will.

The letter of wishes

A letter of wishes is an informal document that sits alongside your will. It is not legally binding, but it provides your executors and family with practical information they will need.

Include:

Where your will is stored (and the deposit reference if with the Probate Registry).
Your solicitor's name and contact details.
Details of any other important documents (life insurance policies, pension details, property deeds).
Funeral wishes (burial vs cremation, any specific requests).
Details of any digital assets (online accounts, crypto wallets, email accounts).

Store this letter separately from the will, somewhere your family can find it easily. A good spot is the front of a home filing system, clearly labelled. Give a copy to your executor.

What not to do

Do not assume people will find the will. They often do not.
Do not hide the location for "security." Security means only trusted people know where it is, not that nobody does.
Do not rely on a single point of contact. If only your executor knows and they die or become incapacitated, the information is lost.

Digital Wills and Online Storage

As of 2026, a will in England and Wales must be a physical document signed by the will-maker in the presence of two witnesses. Digital-only wills are not legally valid under the Wills Act 1837.

What online will services offer

Services like Farewill, Beyond, and Co-op Legal Services let you create your will online, but they print and post you a physical copy to sign and witness. The online platform stores a digital backup, which is useful for reference but cannot replace the signed original for probate purposes.

Scanning your will

It is sensible to scan your signed will and store a digital copy as a backup. This gives your executor a reference if the original is temporarily unavailable. However, probate courts require the original signed document. A scan alone is not sufficient.

Future changes

The Law Commission has recommended that the law be updated to allow electronic wills, but as of June 2026, no legislation has been passed. Until the law changes, the signed physical document is the only version that counts.

Storing a Will During Probate

When someone dies, the original will is needed for the probate application. Understanding what happens to the will during this process helps you plan better.

The probate process

The executor locates the original will.
The executor applies to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Probate.
The original will is submitted as part of the application.
Once probate is granted, the will becomes a public document. Anyone can obtain a copy from the Probate Registry for a small fee.
The original will is retained by the court permanently.

After probate is granted

Once the Grant of Probate is issued, the original will is kept on file at the Probate Registry. It does not return to the executor. This means the original will is only needed once, but it must be available at that critical moment.

This is precisely why secure storage matters. If the original cannot be found when probate is needed, the executor faces a difficult process: applying for probate using a copy (which requires additional evidence and may be challenged) or proceeding under intestacy rules.

When to Update Your Stored Will

Your will should be reviewed and potentially rewritten after major life events. When you make a new will, you also need to update your storage arrangements.

Life events that trigger a review

Getting married. Marriage automatically revokes an existing will in England and Wales. You need a new will immediately.
Getting divorced. Your ex-spouse is treated as if they had died for the purposes of your will, but other provisions remain. Review the entire document.
Having a child. Add guardianship provisions and adjust bequests.
Buying property. Update to reflect the new asset, especially if you have changed from renting to owning.
Significant change in assets. Inheritance, business sale, or other major financial changes.
Death of a beneficiary or executor. Update the will to name replacements.
Moving abroad. You may need wills in multiple jurisdictions.

How to update stored wills

Probate Registry: Deposit the new will (£11). The old will remains on file, but the most recent will takes precedence.
Solicitor: Inform them you have made a new will. Provide the new document for storage and confirm the old one is superseded.
At home: Replace the old will with the new one in your safe. Destroy the old one (shred it) to avoid confusion. Update your letter of wishes.
National Will Register: Update the record if the storage location has changed.

Never make changes to a signed will by hand

If you want to change your will, create a new will or add a formal codicil (a legal supplement to the will). Crossing out sections, adding notes in the margins, or attaching additional pages to a signed will can invalidate it or create ambiguity that leads to legal disputes.

Key Takeaways

Probate Registry is best. £11 one-off, government-backed, no annual fees, easy retrieval for executors.
Solicitor storage is very good. Often free, professional security, but check what happens if the firm closes.
Home storage needs a fireproof safe and a backup copy elsewhere. Never rely on home storage alone.
Register with the National Will Register as an additional safety net (£40 one-off).
Never use a bank safe deposit box for your will. The catch-22 of needing probate to access the box that contains the will causes months of delay.
Tell your executor where to find the will. A will that cannot be found is as useless as no will at all.
Review your will after major life events and update your storage arrangements at the same time.

Next Steps

If you have not stored your will securely, do it today. The Probate Registry process takes 10 minutes of your time and costs £11. The National Will Register takes 5 minutes and costs £40. These are small investments against the risk of your will never being found.

If you do not yet have a will, that is the more urgent priority. See our guide: How to Write a Will in the UK.

Once your will is sorted, check what other gaps exist in your family's protection. Life insurance, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and emergency funds all work together with your will to keep your family safe. Use our Protection Gap Finder to see where you stand.

Last updated: June 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact the Probate Registry directly for current fees and procedures.