Where to Store Your Will in England and Wales

Keep the signed original of your Will somewhere secure, protected from damage and findable by the people who will deal with your estate. A carefully prepared Will cannot help your executors carry out your wishes if nobody knows where the original is stored.

In England and Wales, common options include home storage, a solicitor, a bank, a Will writing company and HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). Each option has practical trade-offs. The right choice depends on security, access, cost and what will happen when the Will needs to be updated or retrieved.

This article covers England and Wales only. It provides general information and does not recommend a storage option for an individual's circumstances.

Why the original Will needs to be secure and retrievable

The original signed Will is normally needed when an executor applies for probate. A scan or photocopy is useful as a record, but it is not a substitute for keeping the original safely.

Good storage protects the Will from:

• fire, water, accidental disposal or physical damage;
• unauthorised alteration or removal;
• being forgotten when a person moves home or changes adviser; and
• delays caused because an executor cannot locate it.

GOV.UK advises telling your executor, a close friend or a relative where the Will is kept. You do not need to give them unrestricted access while you are alive, but they should know how the original can be found after your death.

Where can you store a Will in England and Wales?

At home

Home storage is convenient and usually free. A fire-resistant and water-resistant safe may reduce some risks, provided the safe is properly installed and the right person can obtain access when needed.

Avoid hiding the Will so effectively that nobody finds it. Do not attach notes, staples or other items in a way that could create uncertainty about the document's condition. Keep a separate record of the storage location and access instructions.

With a solicitor

A solicitor who prepared the Will may offer to retain the original. Ask whether storage is included, how successors can retrieve it, whether there is a withdrawal fee and what arrangements apply if the firm closes, merges or transfers its files.

If you later make a new Will through someone else, tell the new adviser where the earlier original is held and arrange the appropriate next step.

With a bank

Some banks offer document storage, although availability and access arrangements vary. Confirm that the executor can retrieve the original after your death and what evidence the bank will require. A safe-deposit arrangement that nobody can access without probate may create a practical circular problem, so ask about post-death access before choosing it.

With a Will writing company

A Will writing company may provide secure storage and a registration or retrieval process. The Competition and Markets Authority's consumer guide recommends checking the physical storage location for the original Will, the cost, what happens if the business stops trading and whether removal fees apply.

Also check whether any subscription renews automatically and how to cancel it. Storage should be a deliberate choice, not an unnoticed add-on.

With HM Courts and Tribunals Service

HMCTS accepts Wills and codicils for secure storage by post. Its current storage guidance states that the one-off fee is £24 as at 13 July 2026. The process uses the PA7ENV label, a witness signature and the postal instructions in the guidance.

HMCTS says it takes around two weeks for a Will to be lodged, after which it sends a lodgement certificate. Keep that certificate and the safe-custody reference secure. The person who made the Will, or the appropriate person after their death, can apply to withdraw it using the current HMCTS process.

Fees, forms, addresses and processing times can change. Check GOV.UK again immediately before sending an original document.

What should you tell your executor?

Your executor should know:

• which organisation or location holds the signed original;
• any reference number or certificate that will help retrieve it;
• who to contact and what evidence may be required;
• whether a more recent Will or codicil exists; and
• where to find a separate, current asset and contact list.

Do not write safe combinations, account passwords or sensitive identity details into the Will. Store access information securely and give it only to an appropriate person.

What should you do after making a new Will or codicil?

A new Will or codicil can make an older storage record misleading. After signing an update:

1. Follow the professional advice you received about the earlier document.
2. Store the new original using the chosen secure method.
3. Update the executor and any trusted contact about its location.
4. Replace obsolete storage references without destroying something you were advised to retain.
5. Review any storage subscription, withdrawal process or certificate.

Our article on steps after completing your Will covers the wider post-draft checklist.

Will storage checklist

Before choosing or reviewing a storage option, ask:

• Is the original protected from fire, water, loss and unauthorised access?
• Can the executor discover where it is without unnecessary delay?
• What does storage cost now and later?
• How is the Will retrieved during life and after death?
• What happens if the provider closes or changes ownership?
• Is there a clear process when the Will is replaced?
• Have the executor and a trusted contact been told where to start?

When should you ask a solicitor for advice?

Consider independent legal advice if the original Will is missing, damaged or marked; more than one document may be the latest Will; a storage provider will not release it; the Will-maker's capacity or instructions are disputed; or an executor is unsure which document should be used.

For future updates, review the signing and witnessing process before signing. If you are preparing a new Will and your circumstances fit its confirmed scope, explore the England and Wales Online Will Service. NobleWills does not claim in this article to provide a UK storage service; choose and verify storage separately.