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How to Protect your Will from Damage

Your Will is one of the most important documents you will write in your lifetime, and protecting it from damage, theft or fire is therefore extremely important. Choosing a safe place to keep your Will will ensure your final wishes are carried out.

How to Keep Your Will Safe

Keeping it with the bank

Many people choose to keep their Will in a bank safety deposit box. This protects it from damage, but can cause problems later on. The bank may be difficult about releasing a Will to the executors before probate has been granted, but probate cannot be granted without the Will.

Keeping it at home

You can prevent the inevitable battle with the bank by storing your Will at home, or with trusted friends and family. However, this leaves it open to damage from fire, flooding or even theft. If you choose this option, make sure you tell the executor where the Will is or he/she may not be able to find it and carry out your final wishes.

Leave it with us

The best place to keep a Will is to ask a trusted solicitor to hold it for you. Burt Brill & Cardens have specially-made fireproof cabinets where we will keep your Will safe until it is needed. All you need to do is make sure the executors know where it is being held.

I want to destroy my Will

If, for any reason, you decide to destroy your Will, it is vital that it is done correctly, either by tearing it up or burning it. This must be done by you, or in front of you, to correctly revoke it. Once the Will is destroyed, you must write a new one quickly or risk dying intestate.

To hold your Will with Burt Brill & Cardens, or for more information on our Wills and Probate services, call us now on 01273 604123 or email enquire@bbc-law.co.uk.

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