Choose where to keep the original
You can keep your will at home or ask a solicitor, bank or storage service about holding it. HM Courts and Tribunals Service also offers will storage in England and Wales.
Think about protection from fire, water, loss and damage. Also think about access: a very secure place is not useful if nobody knows how to reach the document after your death.
Before paying a service, ask:
- Is the fee one-off or ongoing?
- How can I get the will back while alive?
- How does my executor obtain it after my death?
- What happens if the business closes or changes hands?
- How do I replace the stored will after making a new one?
Tell your executor how to find it
Your executor is the person you name to carry out your will. Tell them the storage location and the provider’s contact details, if you use one. Keep the storage receipt with other useful records.
You can keep a copy for reference, clearly marked as a copy. A scan or photocopy does not replace the signed original. Do not assume that a saved draft in an online account is the completed will.
Check the official storage option
HMCTS explains how to send a will or codicil for storage and how it can be withdrawn. A codicil is a separate document that changes a will.
Read the current HMCTS storage instructions and fee. Follow those instructions before sending an original document.
Keep the storage plan up to date
Check the arrangements when you move home, change executor or make a new will. Tell the right people if the location changes.
Do not write new wishes on the signed document. Use the proper process to update your will. If an original has been lost, or you are unsure which version applies, ask for advice before destroying anything.
Sources and page notes
Sources checked on 29 October 2026. These links explain the rules behind this guide.