It is not enough simply to write your Will in Panfield or even to get someone else to write it for you. You also need to ensure that your Will is both safely and securely stored away until such time as it is ever actually needed. This is because without the original signed and witnessed copy of your Will in Panfield or anywhere else for that matter then you will not be able to have your wishes legally enforced related to the distribution of your estate. With this in mind, Laura Richardson now takes you through some of the options that you have available to you with regard to the safe and secure storage of your Will in Panfield . . .
Many people in Panfield and across Essex are unsure of the safest, securest or most convenient way to store their Will. Generally, you won’t need to access your Will for many years, so it is vital to choose the best storage option. Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services have detailed some options for your consideration.
Firstly, you could store your Will at home. This may be the most convenient option as your Will would always be at hand. However, it may not be a secure option. Your Will could be lost in a fire, flood, in a house move, or accidently destroyed. It has even been known for family members to destroy an unfavourable Will! Even if your Will is locked in a safe, it is unlikely that the type of safe usually used by people in their homes would withstand a fire.
Secondly, you could store your Will at your bank. This would be more secure, however the bank may not allow access to anyone except for yourself. This can therefore be problematic following your death as your Executors would not have the right to access your Will, until they have received the Grant of Probate, which they cannot do unless they have your Will!
A third option is to use Will storage provided by a firm such as Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services. There are many firms available however, we at Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services offer either a fixed rate service, or alternatively a bespoke Will storage service, with fees payable either on an annual or lifetime basis. We will safely and securely store your Will, giving you the peace of mind that should your Will be damaged whilst in our care, it will be replaced free of charge. Access will be granted to you using a unique code, which ensures maximum security. Further, in the event of your death, your Executors will be aware of the location of your Will and they will then be allowed access to your Will. For your convenience, you are welcome to arrange to collect your Will from Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services with just 24 hours notice, or alternatively we can make arrangements to deliver your Will to you. Furthermore, while we offer a Probate service, your Executors would not be obligated or pressured into using this service, despite storing your Will with us. Finally, if you store your Will with Andrew Douglas Will and Legal Services we will offer a 20% discount on all future amendments to your Will!
If you would like to discuss our Will storage services in more detail, please contact us at Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services and we will be happy to talk through the best options for the storage of your Will in Panfield and throughout Essex.
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