Are wills public documents, and where should you store yours?

While you are alive, nobody can demand to see your will. After you die, if a grant of probate is issued, the will is filed with the court and can be viewed. Anyone can search for a probate record and order a copy of the will on gov.uk, currently for £16 per copy online.

If you do not want the details of what you leave and to whom to be public, you can use a trust. Assets held in a trust are dealt with under the trust, and the will does not need to describe them in detail. This is one of the reasons people use Asset Protection Trusts and Property Protection Trusts.

• With your will writer. Our single and mirror wills packages include 12 months of free storage.
• At home, in a fire-resistant, secure place. Make sure your executors know where it is.
• A professional storage service run by a solicitor, a will writer or a specialist company.

Whatever you choose, tell your executors, and keep a note of where the original is. A will that cannot be found causes serious problems.

Never staple, cross out or write on a will, or remove staples. Damage or alterations can raise doubts about whether it is the final version. If you need to change something, make a new will or a formal codicil.