Local Solicitor Steele Raymond LLP is now providing Will registration as part of their service to ensure that a Will can be easily located when a loved one passes on. Tens of thousands of people in the UK die intestate each year. This is where a person dies without having made a valid Will.
In such cases the rules of intestacy apply and these determine who will administer and who will benefit from the deceased’s estate. This may differ from the way in which someone would have wished their estate to be distributed.
Wills are registered on the legal professions National Will Register, Certainty.co.uk which records the name of the solicitor holding the Will for safekeeping. This replaces the haphazard process where a family has to guess which solicitor is holding the Will. The register doesn’t hold a copy of the actual Will and does not release information about it other than its whereabouts.
In a recent public survey 67% of people surveyed were unaware of the location of their parents’ Wills. This is not surprising as the passage of time, house moves and new relationships are all contributing factors to families not being able to locate a Will.
John Andrews, Head of Private Client Departmentsays“The register records the location of a Will which means we can quickly locate it for next of kin and beneficiaries at the appropriate time. If you have been carefulenough to make a Will then you should register it to ensure it can be found. Registration is a quick process that aims to minimise the risk of difficulties in the future for your loved ones”.
Certainty’s Chairman, Kevin Martin, Past Law Society President, says “The very last thing you want your family doing is searching for a Will at a time of grieving.Not being able to locate a Will because it has been misplaced, presumed never written or destroyed causes untold distress and leaves beneficiaries financially and emotionally vulnerable. Registering your Will ensures that your last wishes are respected.” John Andrews, Head of Private Client Departmentcontinues: “Everyone who cares what happens to their assets after they die should make a Will and review it regularly especially when they experience a major life change such as marriage, divorce, having children, or moving house. Having your Will registered is one of the most important things you can do for those you may leave behind and who you wish to benefit – our clients will now have peace of mind that their relatives can easily locate their Will when the time comes.”
Steele Raymond LLPis offering free registration to any of their clients who have made Wills with them prior to 21st April 2010. For Wills made after this date there is a nominal charge to register a Will.
