When someone close to us passes away, the emotional toll can be overwhelming. Amongst the grief, there is often the added responsibility of managing their affairs, with one of the most important tasks being the search for their will.
Talking about death is something many of us shy away from, which means that when the time comes, families are often left uncertain about whether a will even exists.
In the UK there is currently no legal requirement for a will to be registered or stored in a central location. This can mean the process of locating a will can be both time-consuming and stressful, particularly if your loved one did not leave clear instructions or even tell you whether they had a will prior to their death.
To help guide you through this difficult time, below are some practical steps you can take to locate a will and gather the necessary documents to assist you with administering the deceased’s estate.
The first step is of course to carefully search the deceased’s home, particularly in places where important documents may be kept, such as filing cabinets, safes or desk drawers.
During this search, you may come across other important documents such as birth, marriage or death certificates. These documents, as well as any pension/insurance policy documents and bank statements, are likely to be useful in the subsequent step of applying for a grant of probate.
Family members or close friends may have knowledge of the will’s existence or where it was likely to be stored. They might also recall when it was made, which can help narrow down enquiries and searches.
Reach out to solicitor firms, will drafters and accountants in the area where the deceased lived, or previously lived who may have been instructed to prepare or hold a will. If the deceased purchased property, consider contacting the firm that handled the conveyancing, as they may have also been instructed to draft a will at the same time.
If you believe that there was a will but the solicitor who originally held it can no longer be located, or if the firm has since ceased trading, you may be able to trace its successor. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and The Law Society can assist in clarifying which firm took over the practice and who to contact regarding any wills or related documents.
Please note that only the named executor is entitled to obtain a copy of the will.
Whilst it's less common today, historically banks and building societies often held their customers’ wills, usually alongside original property title deeds, particularly where a mortgage was held with the same institution.
It's therefore still advisable to contact all banks and building societies with which the deceased held accounts to enquire whether they are storing a copy or the original will.
The National Will Register is a private for profit company. In spite of its name it's not a central or complete register of wills made in the UK. However, it does hold many wills made across England and Wales. It offers several search options including a will register search, from £65 inc. VAT from July 2025. This can be a useful search option if you believe a will might have been professionally drafted and registered.
It's important to recognise though that will writers are not legally required to register individuals’ wills with the National Will Register. Therefore, if a will is not held by the National Will Register, it does not necessarily mean that no will exists.
The London Gazette is the official public record for legal notices, including those relating to deceased’s estates. You may place an advertisement requesting that any firm holding the deceased’s will provide a copy to the executors. You could also advertise in any other publication in the relevant appropriate geographic area, or that engages with local will writing businesses.
Your advertisement should clearly state that the name of the individual who has passed away and that any firm in possession of the will should contact the executors. Be sure to include your own contact details or those of your solicitor so that you can be reached if necessary.
Please note that there is typically a fee for placing an advertisement in The London Gazette, and while it's a useful tool, there is no guarantee that the intended recipient will see the advertisement.
If a grant of probate has already been issued, the will becomes a public document. You can search the UK government’s probate records using the deceased’s full name and year of death. If you're unsure of the exact year, you can search a range of years. Copies of wills and grants can be ordered for a small fee.
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