How To Store Your Will

How To Store Your Will – If you opt to keep your will at home, discreet hiding places probably come to mind. Some popular spots include the back of the toilet water tank (always taped in a waterproof bag!), the freezer, the pantry, on a bookshelf, under floorboards, in a closet or even buried (in a can or jar) in the backyard. But wait — do not be tempted by these ad hoc solutions. Attorneys and other experts recommend more practical choices, which ideally include backed-up copies in alternative locations.

Sensible storage solutions

The most important criterion is that you choose somewhere safe, accessible and straightforward for your heirs or family to find.

• Attorney’s office. Especially if your lawyer drafted the original, their office might seem an obvious choice. However, what if the attorney dies, retires or changes law firms over the years? Are you likely to retain the same attorney for the rest of your life? Lawyers are only human, and sometimes they do lose important documents. Some may even refuse to keep the original documents in order to avoid liability for break-ins, floods or theft. Besides, if the attorney closes the practice, somebody will have to track down former clients to return original documents. For all these reasons, many law firms will at least charge a fee for taking on the risks of will storage. If your lawyer agrees to hang on to the original, it may still be sensible for them to keep signed copies of it. These can sometimes be submitted to the probate court with testimony, just in case the original goes missing.
• Probate court. Some states will permit you to file your will during your lifetime with the probate court where you reside. Or the county clerk may be willing to look after the original copy. In those safe hands, you can take some comfort from knowing that a family member would be less able to defraud you. Be warned, though, that if you move out of that county, leaving your will behind, you might need to travel if you later wish to amend it. Moreover, if you have concerns about privacy, filing with the court in some states immediately creates a public record. (In most states, though, the documents only become public during the probate process.)
• Safety deposit box. This may be a useful storage place for jewelry or small valuable items and is extremely secure in a bank vault. But there are drawbacks. The bank will charge something for the service, and states have different laws for allowing access after the owner’s death. In some jurisdictions, an executor or family member may need to obtain a court order for permission to open the box. Make sure the executor or relative knows its location and has received your authority to open it.
• Online. The cloud is a good repository as a backup, but probate courts still normally require an original paper document with signatures. Be careful with online security, especially about revealing account numbers, passwords, birth dates and Social Security numbers.

Informing your executors

You already trust your executor and do not want to burden them unnecessarily. You can streamline the probate process by providing copies of any documents needed. It may be helpful to give your executor any powers of attorney, funeral instructions, living trust documents or digital access information along with your will. Remember to name a backup executor in case the first one dies or becomes incapacitated. You will need to contact executors any time you update your will or, of course, if you change executors. Above all, make sure the executor always knows where your will is, as they will need it when the time comes to obtain probate.

Safeguarding a will is a serious responsibility. Consult your legal and financial advisers about any steps you should take to ensure your will is kept in a secure and convenient location.

Copyright, 2022

Did you enjoy reading, How To Store Your Will?

 Interested in learning more about this subject? Attend our upcoming estate planning webinars!

Have You Properly Protected Your Loved Ones? (FREE Estate Planning Workshop), Trustee and Power of Attorney Training School Webinar, Medi-Cal Webinar, Probate Webinar, and our What To Do When a Loved One Dies Webinar Series. Get registered today for our estate planning webinars!

This website is not intended to be a source of solicitation or legal advice. General information is made available for educational purposes only. The information on this blog is not an invitation for an attorney-client relationship, and website should not be used to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state. Please call us at (626) 403-2292 if you wish to schedule an appointment for a legal consultation.

For more information about The Hayes Law Firm, visit our Google My Business page.

Thanks for reading, How To Store Your Will!

• Author
• Recent Posts

William Hayes

As an attorney in private practice in Los Angeles County, California William Hayes provides extensive estate and tax planning services to individuals and businesses in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and surrounding communities. Attorney Hayes’ primary focus is to help clients avoid probate, protect their assets, and provide for the security of their loved ones with a well-crafted estate plan. He believes in giving each client the time needed to explain his or her needs and wishes and then dedicates his efforts toward making the client’s desires clear in their final estate plan.

Latest posts by William Hayes (see all)

• Is This Your Situation: You’re Worried About Probate - October 2, 2023
• Avoid These Top Trust Problems - September 18, 2023
• Should I Leave My Child A Buck? - September 12, 2023