Document storage: Where and how should you store your Will?

Keeping your original Will in a secure place is very important. It should be stored somewhere safe and your executor should know where the original document is located.

Maurice Blackburn Wills and estate lawyers can store your original Will, and other important documents, free of charge.

What if I my Will can't be found?

If, after your death, your original Will cannot be found, then in most cases you will be deemed to have died without a Will (intestate).  In this situation, your estate will be distributed according to the legislative formula in your jurisdiction (the “intestacy rules”).  This will generally not bring about the distribution that you intended.

What happens if I lose my original Will?

If your original Will goes missing and you were the last person to have it, then even if you have a photocopy of the document, you will still die intestate and your estate distributed according to the intestacy rules.  You will be deemed to have destroyed the original document, even if you haven’t.

Where should you store your Will?

To avoid the loss of your original Will and you being deemed to have died intestate, your original Will should not be held personally but stored in a secure location.

We can store your original Will, and other important documents, free of charge, even if the documents were not prepared by Maurice Blackburn. 

Your original documents are available to you at any time upon request.

We can also provide you with hard and/or electronic copies of your documents so that they are on hand should you need to review them. 

If you have any questions, or need to access a Will, get in touch with our Deeds team today.