How can my friend trace a missing will after her mum's death?

[FlipStonkDragon]

My friend's mum died on Thursday. She's made a will but it can't be found in the house anywhere and doesn't know who the solicitor was. She needs to register the death on Monday. Any idea how to find out the solicitor so the will can be found? Hoping it's not a DIY WH Smith will kit she used.

She doesn’t need a will to register the death or have a funeral

Check the national will register and call local solicitors. You don't need the will to register the death just the death certificate.

Why do you hope it's not a diy template? Were her mother's affairs very complicated?

Not to my knowledge. Just that if it was a DIY job and it's lost then it can't be found and effectively she's died intestate. And it wouldn't be on the national will register.

@DidYeAye16 I had no idea that there was a national wills register. Makes total sense to have one though.

It's not compulsory for wills to be registered but I just know my mums definitely was by her solicitor.

It's not that. It could simply be that if the will was done DIY it may never turn up. People don't always lodge a copy with a solicitor, and there might not be a copy with the Register of Wills either.

Perhaps your friend could contact several local firms of solicitors and ask whether the deceased lady had ever had dealings with them regarding a will. It also might be worth asking her bank, and if she had a close, trusted friend, she may have told them where the will is.

A local solicitor to where your mum lived can advise you about how you can track down the possibility of a will. My friend had to do that when her relative died. There is a simple blanket method of doing this without loads of calls to separate legal firms! Ask.

You don’t need a will to register a death.

If it turns out there is no will to be found, your mum has died intestate. There are therefore legal rules to sort that out. If you can’t afford a solicitors help, give Citizens Advice a call.

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

Contact all the solicitors in her town.

Most senisble people wouldn't lodge it with a solicitor, but it is important to make sure people know where it is.