Keeping your Will safe – Why is it important?

You need to ensure that your Will is kept safe and secure, as if anything happens to your Will (such as theft, flood or fire) or if it cannot be located your estate may need to be distributed according to Intestacy rules rather than to the beneficiaries of your choice.

The original Last Will and Testament is the only document that will be legally accepted and it must be in pristine condition to ensure that there are no complications. Therefore, we recommend that your Will is stored appropriately so that it meets the specific requirements of the Probate Courts when it is presented by your executor(s).

Unfortunately, families often encounter problems when it comes to acting upon the wishes of their loved ones. Understandably, many people don’t like to talk about their plans for later life which can lead to common issues such as the family being unaware that a Will has been written in the first place, the executors not knowing where the Will is stored or it is damaged or lost due to inappropriate storage.

Storing my Will at home is safe… isn’t it?

Many people will understandably assume that the safest place to store their Will is within their home. However, what happens if the worse happens and your house is burgled, damaged by fire or flooded? What if the documents are mislaid during a move or clear out? Research by the Certainty Will register shows that the majority of family members (67%) wouldn’t know where their relative’s Will is stored at home.

Even if you do store the document in a safe and secure location, it will mean that the Will has not been included on the National Will Register. This is the UK wide database of all Wills and is the first place that a legal professional will check should the executors not be able to locate the document themselves.

Professional Will storage solutions – for complete peace of mind

We at Laurelo can offer you the safest option when it comes to storing your Will. We will take ownership and full responsibility for the lifetime storage of your Will, giving you one less thing to worry about.   

• Store the documents in a fully insured, professional facility guaranteed against flood and fire damage
• Provide you with a unique reference number so that you can retrieve the Will at any time
• Give you access to a Freephone helpdesk who can answer any questions that you may have

A professional storage solution

Laurelo stores client Wills at a secure location in the UK. Our facility offers a number of security features to ensure the Will is completely protected against any risks that could damage or invalidate it. Wills are easily accessible and can be obtained within 24 hours.

Additional benefits of our Will storage: 

• Protection against flooding and water damage
• Protection against fire
• A fully secured facility, monitored by CCTV 24 hours a day with access limited to registered staff only

How will my documents be protected?

The facility offers a number of security features which ensure that your Will is completely protected against any risks that could damage or invalidate it:

• A fully air-conditioned, temperature and humidity-controlled environment
• Full protection against flooding and water damage
• Full protection against fire and smoke using gas suppression agents that will not damage
• Barcoded registration to ensure ease of access and retrieval
• A fully secured facility, monitored by CCTV 24 hours a day and access limited to registered staff only, enforced by a secure entry