How to care for and safely store your Will

Important information on the care and safe storage of your will

To avoid any issues when applying for a Grant of Probate, never remove a staple (if the Will has been stapled), or affix anything to a Will including by staple, paperclip or by any other means.

If there is a document to be included with a Will in a probate application, such as a codicil for example, then the document should not be affixed, but rather it should ‘sit with the Will’ as a separate document.

If something is affixed to a Will, then later removed, leaving a pin-hole, rust marks or indentations on the paper, this is likely to raise a question as to whether the testator/testatrix’s original testamentary intention has been tampered with or altered.

If a circumstance arises where there has been damage to a Will, the Executor will be required to prepare an affidavit offering an explanation for the damage, and to provide that affidavit as part of their application for a Grant of Probate.

Aside from this, your Will should be stored in a safe, secure location where it is unlikely to be damaged or lost. If you decide to store your original Will in a Will storage facility, such as with a Will Bank, then you may choose to have certified copies made to enable you to retain a copy and/or to provide a certified copy to your Executor.