Can't find mum's Will

[MissMarplesNiece]

My mum has recently died. I know she made a Will in 2021 - I took her to solicitors office the day it was signed & witnessed. It was very straightforward - assets divided equally between her 3 children, no bequests.

She got increasingly forgetful & disorganised before her death, frequently throwing away/losing hospital letters, pension letters etc.

Now we can't find the original Will and I think it was "filed in the bin" by accident. I have a photocopy of the Will before it was signed and also the solicitor's invoice iro the Will, but not a photocopy of the signed Will.

Where do I go from here?

Is it possible that the solicitor is holding the original? Might be worth contacting them.

My solicitor has a stored copy of my signed will - apparently they are kept off-site in a fireproof facility.

Our Mam's solicitor kept the original. She had a photocopy.

I will phone solicitor this morning to check with them. I know for my step dad he had the original Will, but then it was made in the final weeks of his terminal illness so circumstances were different. I just assumed mum would have her original, but maybe not.

I would expect the original is with the solicitor. They will ask for ID before releasing it to you (assuming you are executor) but if they don't hold the original I would expect them to have a copy of the executed (signed and witnessed) will and they will be able to assist you with the process of seeking probate without the original will if necessary.

It's very common for the solicitor to hold the will. Good luck!

It turns out the Solicitor had the original signed Will after all; they even remembered my mum from 3 years ago which I found very touching. And there was me blaming my poor old DM for throwing it away.

It's good to hear there's no problem with finding the original will to distract you from all the other stuff you'll have going on. Good luck sorting it out.