How to find a Will
If you’re trying to discover whether someone left a Will, this guide explains how to find a Will and the options if you start with no leads. No legal experience is needed, just clear steps to follow.
Where to start: At home or with trusted contacts
Begin your search in the deceased person’s usual places. This can include:
- Home offices or filing cupboards;
- Fireproof or waterproof safes;
- Personal documents, letterboxes, or drawers.
Also, ask friends, family, or neighbours if they were told where the Will was kept. If a Solicitor or Will Writer was involved, contact them directly.
Check with Solicitors, Will Writers, or banks
Most people use a Solicitor or professional Will Writer to write their Will. Contact the firm with:
- A certified copy of the death certificate;
- Proof of ID.
They may hold the original Will or guide you further if it was stored securely elsewhere. Some banks offer safe deposit storage for Wills; check with the providers.
Search the National Will Register
The National Will Register, now part of Certainty, collects details of Wills written by professionals. You can enquire to see if a Will has been registered.
Be aware that not all Wills are listed, but a positive result is helpful. There is a fee (usually around £38 excluding VAT), and any costs are allowable from the estate.
Use the official Probate Service search
Once probate is granted, the Will becomes publicly available. You can search the GOV.UK Probate Records service with:
- The full name of the deceased;
- Their year of death.
This service costs around £1.50. You can order a copy of the Will and the Grant of Probate. If probate is not yet issued, you can opt for a “standing search”, which notifies you once it is granted.
What if you cannot find the Will?
If your search proves unsuccessful:
- Consider hiring a Probate Genealogist or Researcher. These experts trace lost Wills and missing beneficiaries using public records and genealogical tools. Some charge a commission from the estate value.
- Contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) if you believe a firm holding the Will has closed or merged. The SRA may tell you where the files went.
- If no Will is found, the estate may be treated as intestate, meaning inheritance follows the legal rules of intestacy.
The benefit of knowing where the Will is
Finding the original Will early helps with:
- Applying for the Grant of Probate without delay;
- Avoiding uncertainty or estate disputes;
- Confirming the deceased’s actual intentions and beneficiaries.
Quick steps checklist
- Check the deceased’s home for a Will.
- Ask Solicitors, Will Writers, and banks.
- Search the National Will Register.
- Use the official Probate Records service.
- Engage a probate researcher if needed.
Final thoughts
Searching for a Will may take time, but it is vital to find it to ensure the deceased's wishes are respected. Start with simple steps at home and work outwards to professionals and official records. If the Will still cannot be found, you may need legal advice to proceed.
