Below is a quick checklist that you may want to use as an initial step, after looking in all of the ‘obvious’ (and probably not so obvious!) places in their home or where you were aware that they stored their important documents.

• Solicitors & Will Writers

If your loved one had their Will drafted professionally then the Solicitor or Will Writer that did this may be storing the original Will. You may find their details in paperwork you locate within their home, or you may know of a Solicitor/Will Writer that they frequently used.

Alternatively, you may want to contact some local firms to see if they are holding the original Will.

• Banks

In some cases, banks provide a Will Writing service and then offer to store the Will.

Therefore, it may be worth contacting your loved one’s banks and building societies to see if they are holding the original Will or any documents on behalf of the deceased.

• The National Will Register

Registration of Wills in the UK is not compulsory. However, the National Will Register stores almost 10million WIlls and the library can be searched, although there is a fee. Fees for searching this register start at £45.60.

If the Will cannot be found, or there isn’t a Will, then the deceased’s Estate will be distributed in accordance with the Rules of Intestacy – check out our article on the Rules of Intestacy here.