Where are wills kept? And how does the announcement work after death?

[KookyNotOoky]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, could not see where else to put it.

I am thinking of getting a will. Once completed, is it kept at the solicitor's office? Or in my possession ? (Or both?)

After death, what is the process - would relatives have to gather at the solicitors for a formal reading/approval etc.?

You can choose where you keep the will.

Formal will readings aren’t a thing these days, the executors just get on with it.

There is no formal "gathering to read the will". You nominate someone to be executor of the will and and tell them you've done it and where you keep the will. You can store it at home if you have a safe place, or leave a copy with a solicitor. You can have a few duplicates just in case.

Never store a will in a bank deposit box as the will is needed for probate and the bank can't open the box without probate leaving everyone stuck.

Once you die the executor fetches it, applies for probate (if applicable) and they divvy up assets as required.

The formal will reading is pretty much a Hollywood trope! Keep the will wherever you like. My parents have a copy with their solicitors, and one with their papers at home.

Yes like others have said there is no formal 'will reading' - TV/films like to show them as a lovely dramatic moment but in real life either everyone concerned already knows exactly what the will says and so no need, or it's an unpleasant/unwelcome surprise for at least one person in which case it's generally a better idea for a known person to share the news in a private/sensitive way - but obviously that would not make good TV!

It's the executor's job (whether that's a professional executor like a solicitor or a friend/family member) to distribute the estate in accordance with the will and so usually they are the one that lets the beneficiaries know that they are a beneficiary and the general terms of the will and deal with any questions/rage! Wills become a matter of public record once probate is granted so anyone can get a copy of the will at that point if they don't feel clear or don't trust what the executor says. Wills are often kept with the solicitor that made them but you can also keep them at home. You can lodge your will with the national will register as well.

ok thanks for clarifying everyone.

Do I have to inform the executor pre-death? Can I not just nominate someone, and they take over when the day comes? Or can I ask the solicitor to this?

The executor(s) are named in the will, a solicitor and/or a beneficiary or two usually. Sensible for the solicitor to keep a copy and you to keep a copy in a safe place my DPs also gave me a copy to keep safe for them.

Sensible to ask in advance if x is happy to be an executor, it can be quite a lot of work. Also useful to keep a list of assets etc so the executor knows what to look for. Dh’s uncle had a one page sheet with all account numbers, utility details, insurance etc that he kept with the will.
you can appoint the solicitor to be your executor, depends how complicated your estate is.

It's best to tell the executor before hand, it's a job they have to agree to doing and they can refuse.

After death, what is the process - would relatives have to gather at the solicitors for a formal reading/approval etc.?

No, that is just a thing for old films.

You can keep copies where you like.
Ours is with all our other paperwork, under 'W' for will, and my (adult) dc know it is there. You don't have to have anything to do with a solicitor if you don't want to, but equally you can let a solicitor do everything.

Do I have to inform the executor pre-death? Can I not just nominate someone, and they take over when the day comes?

Why would you do that? Being an executor can be a big job. You can't dump it on someone without discussing it with them first. Well, morally at least.

I was thinking about this the other day. I wrote my will in 2017 before a major surgery. No-one knows where it is, including me as i’ve moved since. I think i’ll update and tell my teens where it is. Been thinking about it a lot as my close friend is dying, very out of the blue and makes you examine everything. I’ll get onto that soon, or might wait until I buy a house next year.

The executor(s) can decide not to do it after the death anyway, they can appoint a solicitor to do it all for them.

You can register your will with the National Will register

which would be a really helpful thing, if more people knew about it.

I believe it costs around £30 and just makes so much sense, for those who want their wishes known, and those who need to know after someone else's death, but come from a family where they don't talk about such things.

Executors should be informed in advance. Don't name a solicitor as executor unless you are v wealthy as it'll cost big time. I keep the original at my solicitors and a copy of my will with funeral instructions in a box clearly marked will in my home office. I also have a spreadsheet attached listing all my bank/ share account/ trust references. Finally I have a list of cash/valuable gifts like art and jewellery attached for the executors to pass on. This isn't part of my will as I don't want to pay the solicitor every time I change it. Nor do I want my estate to have to get a valuation ( and pay 40% tax on) every valuable I gift which they would have to do if cited in the will. I don't feel guilty about this as most of my valuables were inherited and were listed in my parents wills so IHT was paid on them.

I've done the same as Grannyinnwaiting and it's with the solicitors along with a copy at home that I've already told my family about. I also wanted to leave something more personal behind and have used heavenly-messages.com so that personal messages can be sent to my friends and family in the future, which I thought was a beautiful idea

Any duplicates would just be for reference. The original signed document HAS to be the one your executor send off for probate. Any duplicate is not a valid, legal document. If the original ois truly lost there is a process if you have a copy but it is more difficult and expensive.

I was going to suggest the National Will Register, but you beat me to it 😀

Loads of MN members have used Marlow Wills Making a will, inheritance tax, power of attorney

Can I recommend that, once you've made a will, you give copies to your children and anyone else who receives a significant bequest. Talk to them about who gets what so that you can all know and understand what's going to happen - and so any possible upsets are dealt with.

There is little more upsetting than having children disputing their share of the estate after their parent is dead. If its tackled while you're alive, they're much less likely to dispute anything. From bitter experience...