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Where to Store Your Will UK: The 5 Options (And Which to Avoid)

6 min23 Jan 2026

Where to Store Your Will UK: The 5 Options

You've made a will. Congratulations - you're ahead of 54% of UK adults. But here's a statistic that should worry you: 29% of people with a will haven't told anyone where to find it.

A will that can't be found is as useless as no will at all. Your family will have to apply for probate as if you died intestate, which means your wishes may never be carried out.

Table of Contents

The 5 Storage Options Compared {#storage-options}

1. Probate Registry (Best Option) {#probate-registry}

The government's Probate Registry will store your original will securely for a one-off fee of £11.

How It Works

  1. Send your original will to the Principal Registry of the Family Division
  2. Pay £11 (postal order or cheque)
  3. Receive a deposit certificate with a unique reference number
  4. Keep the certificate safe and tell your executor

After You Die

Your executor contacts the Probate Registry with:

  • Your death certificate
  • Their identification
  • The deposit reference (helpful but not essential)

The Registry releases the will to them.

Pros

  • Cheapest secure option (£11 lifetime)
  • Cannot be lost in house fire or flood
  • Searchable even without the reference number
  • Government-backed security
  • No annual fees

Cons

  • Need to post the original will
  • Takes 2-3 weeks to set up
  • Must update if you make a new will

How to Deposit Your Will

Send to:

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

Include a £11 cheque or postal order payable to "HM Courts & Tribunals Service".

2. With Your Solicitor {#solicitor-storage}

If a solicitor drafted your will, they'll usually offer to store it for free or a small fee.

Typical Arrangements

  • Free storage - Many firms store client wills at no charge
  • Annual fee - Some charge £10-£30 per year
  • Retrieval fee - Some charge £50-£100 when executors collect

Pros

  • Professional secure storage
  • Firm can be contacted after death
  • May offer updates as a package
  • Often free

Cons

  • Firms close down or merge (what happens to your will?)
  • May have hidden fees at retrieval
  • Need to update them if you move
  • They may pressure you to use their probate services

Important Questions to Ask

  1. Is storage included free?
  2. What happens if your firm closes?
  3. Where are wills physically stored?
  4. What does retrieval cost?
  5. Are wills registered anywhere?

3. At Home {#home-storage}

Many people keep their will at home. This works if you do it properly.

Safe Home Storage

  • Fireproof safe - Rated for documents (look for 1-hour fire rating)
  • Waterproof container - Inside the safe
  • Clearly labelled - So it's found easily
  • Tell your executor exactly where it is

Risks of Home Storage

  • Fire or flood could destroy it
  • Could be lost during a house move
  • Family might not find it
  • Someone could tamper with it

How to Mitigate Risks

  1. Store the original at home in a fireproof safe
  2. Register with the National Will Register (see below)
  3. Store a certified copy with a solicitor or the Probate Registry
  4. Give a copy to your executor, clearly marked "COPY"

Cost

  • Fireproof document safe: £50-£200
  • Filing cabinet with lock: Not recommended (no fire protection)

4. National Will Register {#will-register}

The National Will Register doesn't store your will - it records where your will is stored so it can be found after death.

How It Works

  1. You register details of your will (who drafted it, where it's stored)
  2. After death, executors or solicitors can search the register
  3. The register tells them where to find the will

Cost

  • Registration: £40 one-off, or
  • Will-writing services often include registration

Pros

  • Helps locate wills that might otherwise be lost
  • Particularly useful if you've moved solicitors
  • Executors can search even without knowing you registered

Cons

  • Doesn't provide physical storage
  • Not everyone knows to search it
  • Adds cost on top of storage

Is It Worth It?

Yes, if you're storing your will at home or with a solicitor. It's a backup that helps executors find your will.

Register at: nationalwillregister.co.uk

5. Bank Safe Deposit Box (Avoid!) {#bank-box}

This seems like a logical choice - safe deposit boxes are secure, fireproof, and protected. But for wills, they're a terrible option.

The Problem

When you die:

  • The bank seals your safe deposit box
  • No one can access it until probate is granted
  • But to get probate, executors need the will
  • Which is locked in the sealed box...

You've created a catch-22.

How Executors Get Access

  1. Apply to the bank for supervised access (some allow this)
  2. Provide death certificate
  3. Wait for bank procedures (weeks to months)
  4. May need court order if bank refuses
  5. Pay significant fees

This delays probate by months and causes enormous stress.

The Only Exception

If the box is in joint names with someone who survives you, they can access it immediately. But this creates its own problems:

  • Do you trust them with your will?
  • What if they die first?
  • What if you separate?

Our verdict: Never store the only copy of your will in a bank safe deposit box.

What to Tell Your Family {#what-to-tell}

Your will is useless if no one knows where it is.

Tell Your Executor

At minimum, your executor needs to know:

  1. That you have a will
  2. Where the original is stored
  3. Who drafted it (if relevant)
  4. Where any copies are

Consider Telling

  • Your spouse or partner
  • Adult children
  • Other family members named in the will
  • Your solicitor (even if they don't hold it)

What Not to Do

  • Don't assume people will find it
  • Don't hide it "for security"
  • Don't keep the location secret until death
  • Don't store it somewhere only you can access

Create a "Letter of Wishes"

Consider writing a letter that:

  • Confirms where your will is stored
  • Lists your solicitor's details
  • Notes any funeral wishes
  • Mentions important documents

Store this separately from the will, somewhere easily found.

Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}

Key Takeaways

  • Probate Registry is best - £11, secure, easy access for executors
  • Solicitor storage is good - Often free, but check retrieval costs
  • Home storage needs backups - Fireproof safe plus off-site copy
  • Avoid bank boxes - They're sealed on death, creating a nightmare
  • Tell your executor - A will no one can find is useless

Next Steps {#next-steps}

Last updated: January 2026. This article is for informational purposes only. Contact the Probate Registry directly for current fees and procedures.

Last updated: 23 January 2026