One question that estate attorneys often hear from clients is, “Where to store your will?” It’s essential to store your will securely to ensure it’s followed correctly after you’re gone. Sometimes, wills can go missing, leading to probate issues and disagreements over property division. This article highlights the significance of safely storing your will and presents various options to protect it, such as the trustworthy service provided by The U.S. Will Registry. Take action now to protect your legacy for future generations.
What Happens if Your Will is Never Found
At your death, your testamentary document has to undergo probate as required by law. However, should the executor fail to locate it, there arises an assumption that no will was ever made. In such cases, assets which would have been subject to probate other than those held in trust or payable-on-death accounts, shall pass under the intestacy statutes with an emphasis on close relatives only. This may ignore such specific provisions as leaving gifts for distant relatives indicated in your testamentary dispositions. Additionally, if you had nominated a guardian of your minor children upon death, the court can still use its discretion and make an appointment on your behalf.
Most Common Places of Where to Store Your Will
It is common practice to keep wills in the following places so that they can be easily located and remain secure:
Home Safes:
Many people store their wills in either home safes or fireproof and waterproof safes so as to protect them from fire, water, and unauthorized access.
Safety Deposit Boxes:
People often store wills in safety deposit boxes at banks for security. However, access can be restricted if the keys are with the deceased. Make sure the estate trustee has access rights to the box.
Lawyer’s Office:
Some individuals leave their wills with their attorney or law firm. This may be convenient because the lawyer knows where the document is stored safely and how accessible it is.
Executor’s Residence:
Another method is giving a copy of the testator’s death certificate among other essential documents to the executor of one’s estate. By doing this, it becomes easy for an executor to acquire and act on any matter that has been left behind by his/her relative soon after dying.
Relatives or Trusted Friends:
Sometimes people leave their wills with close family members or friends who they know well enough for them to know everything about that person’s wish upon demise. This ensures that someone they trust knows where the document is and can access it when necessary.
Digital Storage Services:
Some individuals’ preference has shifted towards storing their own will digitally due technology development. Some online services offer storage of digital copies of Wills securely along side other important documentation.
Registry Services:
Will registries allow the public and attorneys to log information about where they have stored their wills, ensuring that these documents can be easily found when needed. The U.S. has a national registry to provides a free registration and also a search feature for a missing will.
Personal Filing Systems:
There are some individuals who literally keep all of their personal filing systems containing such things like wills at their homes in some locations. Although it may be convenient, the executor or trusted individuals must know where it is located.
It is crucial to make sure that the executor and other trusted people are aware of where the will is kept so as to prevent any difficulty locating it when required. Make certain to destroy old wills and replace them with new copies each time you revise them. If you remove someone from an updated version of your will, you don’t want to risk them destroying the new one and using the old one instead.
Other Options for Safekeeping
Even if you’re working with a lawyer to plan your estate, there are simple ways to keep everything safe for later use. Depositing a copy with Probate Court speeds up probate following one’s demise but remove it when you move out. Though digital backups are convenient, several courts still demand originals alternatively since they are simply physical objects prone to damage at any moment regardless of their age.
The U.S. Will Registry: Accessibility and Security
Several advantages are associated with registering a will. The the major one is that it guarantees simplicity in accessing and protecting the last wishes of a testator.
No matter where you keep the original and duplicate copy of your will, it is essential to register it. Registering directs your loved ones, (only after your passing) to the location of the copies of your will. Family members too often forget where you stored it, relocate it, or lose or destroy a copy. If one copy of a will is missing, finding the other copy becomes critical in order to settle your estate.
Therefore, by registering your will through The U.S. Will Registry, you make it possible to spare others from searching frantically for important legal documents when they are already suffering from stress and confusion following your demise. Furthermore, The U.S. Will Registry also offers free online storage. This assures that an extra copy remains unharmed just in case. Therefore, estate planning maintains its integrity by following your intentions outlined in your will, providing you with peace of mind as you near the end of life.
In Summary
Knowing where to store your will ensures your will is safe and accessible after your passing. Understanding the significance of proper storage is key. Examining options such as fireproof and waterproof safes or even online document storage are safe and secure options.
In order to provide more security and peace of mind, after deciding where to store your will, record your will with The U.S Will Registry. This nationally central free will registry assures that when there is a need to locate a will, it can be easily found by family members. To secure your future and your family’s financial happiness, store and register your will safely now.
