How to Locate a Will: National Wills Register and Where to Look

Why You Need the Original Will

The Probate Registry requires the original will — not a photocopy or a digital scan. In exceptional circumstances a copy can be admitted, but this requires a court application and sworn statements explaining the original's absence. It is always far easier to locate the original.

The original will must be signed by the testator and at least two witnesses in the correct form. Handwritten alterations after execution are generally ignored unless they were initialled and witnessed at the time of the alteration. Always check the will carefully for codicils — separate documents amending the main will — which must also be submitted to probate.

Step 1: Search the Deceased's Home

Many people keep their will at home. Conduct a thorough search of:

• Filing cabinets and folders: Look for a dedicated "important documents" folder or labelled hanging files.
• Fireproof boxes and safes: Wills are often kept with passports, deeds, and insurance documents.
• Desk drawers: Particularly home office or study.
• Lockboxes: Check for keys to a lockbox elsewhere in the property, in a storage unit, or deposited with a trusted person.
• Among correspondence: Some people keep wills with letters from their solicitor.

Do not throw anything away during this search — documents that look unimportant may be codicils or letters of wishes that accompany the will.

Step 2: Contact the Deceased's Solicitor

If the deceased used a solicitor at any point, the solicitor may hold the original will in safe custody. Many law firms retain client wills indefinitely and will release them to the executor or next of kin on production of the death certificate and evidence of identity.

Check the deceased's correspondence for letters from solicitors. Search bank statements for payments to law firms. If the firm has closed, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) maintains records of where closed firms' files were transferred and can be contacted on 0370 606 2555.

Step 3: Search the National Wills Register

The National Wills Register is operated by Certainty and holds registration details for wills created by participating solicitors, will-writers, and banks. It does not hold the will itself — it holds a record of where the will is stored. A search costs approximately £95 and covers the whole UK database.

To search, you will need the deceased's full name, date of birth, and date of death. Results are typically returned within a few days. Note that not all solicitors and will-writers register with Certainty, so a "not found" result does not conclusively mean no will exists.

You can register a search at www.certainty.co.uk.

Step 4: Check With the Deceased's Bank

Several high street banks — including Lloyds, Barclays, and NatWest — offer will storage services. The bank will confirm whether they hold a will on production of the death certificate. Contact the deceased's main bank and any other banks where they held accounts.

Step 5: Search Probate Records for a Previous Will

If the deceased had a previous will that went through probate (for example as executor of a spouse's estate), you can search the probate records at GOV.UK — search probate records. This will not find the current will, but it may give you the name of the solicitor who drafted the previous will and may still hold the current one.

Grants of Probate themselves become public documents — you can also search to check whether the deceased had already registered a will following an earlier death in the family, which may point you to the solicitor.

Step 6: Check With Friends, Family, and Accountants

Ask family members and close friends whether they recall the deceased mentioning having made a will or naming a solicitor. The deceased's accountant may also know, particularly if the will involved trusts or business succession planning.

Some people choose a trusted friend or family member to hold their will "for safekeeping." It is always worth checking with those who were close to the deceased.

Step 7: Post-Search Options — The Gazette Notice

If you have exhausted all the above avenues and still cannot find a will, you can place a notice in The Gazette inviting anyone holding a will to come forward. This is not a legal requirement for will searches but is good practice, particularly for estates of any complexity.

What Happens If No Will Is Found

If no will can be found after a thorough search, the estate is treated as intestate. The Rules of Intestacy (under the Administration of Estates Act 1925 as amended) determine who inherits — typically the surviving spouse or civil partner first, then children, then more distant relatives.

In an intestate estate, no one has been named executor, so the next of kin must apply to become an administrator using form PA1A. The resulting grant is called Letters of Administration rather than a Grant of Probate. The administration process is then largely the same. For help with the forms, see our guide to PA1P vs PA1A: which probate application form to use.

What If You Find Multiple Wills?

If you find more than one will, only the last valid will is operative — it revokes all earlier wills (assuming it contains a revocation clause, which most wills do). However, do not destroy any earlier will documents until probate has been granted, as there may be questions about the validity or date of each document.

If there is any doubt about which will is the valid last will, or if the will has been altered in a way that raises questions, take legal advice before proceeding. An invalid will can lead to a contested probate application or personal liability for the executor.

Keeping the Will Safe Once Found

Once you have located the original will, do not mark it, fold it unnecessarily, or attach staples or paperclips that leave impressions. The Probate Registry scrutinises the physical condition of wills and any apparent alterations must be explained.

Keep the original in a secure place — ideally a fireproof box or your own solicitor's custody — and work from photocopies for day-to-day reference. You will need to send the original to the Probate Registry when you apply, along with certified copies of the death certificate. For guidance on that process, see our guide to applying for probate.

Documents You Will Need for Probate Alongside the Will

Finding the will is only the first step. You will also need to gather asset valuations and complete inheritance tax forms before the Probate Registry will issue a Grant. For a complete list of required documents, see our guide to what documents you need for probate.

For a complete overview of the probate process from start to finish, see our complete UK probate guide, or use our free estate administration tool to build a personalised checklist. You can also refer to our estate administration checklist and probate checklist to track your progress. For help with the inheritance tax return, see our IHT400 form guide, and for the probate application itself see applying for probate.

Summary: Where to Search for a Will