{"id":12482,"date":"2022-10-27T01:34:13","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T01:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humetaylor.com.au\/?p=12482"},"modified":"2024-06-21T06:48:53","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T06:48:53","slug":"what-to-do-if-an-original-will-cannot-be-found","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humetaylor.com.au\/site\/2022\/10\/27\/what-to-do-if-an-original-will-cannot-be-found\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do if an original Will cannot be found"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”http:\/\/www.humetaylor.com.au\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/banner-about.jpg” custom_padding=”64px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”60px” text_line_height=”1em” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” text_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#B50038″ divider_weight=”5px” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”80px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”135deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 35%|#fafafa 35%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_start_position=”35%” background_color_gradient_end=”#fafafa” background_color_gradient_end_position=”35%” width=”100%” max_width=”2560px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|4%|50px|12%||false” custom_css_main_element=”margin:auto;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”16%” custom_margin=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Section1 – Content” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Why is it necessary to keep my original Will safe?<\/b><\/p>\n

Keeping your original signed Will in a safe place is important as it enables the Court to grant probate in your estate after you die. This is the process whereby the Court validates a Will as the true and last testament of the deceased wishes, which enables the process of releasing assets to begin. Therefore, it is important that you and your loved ones are aware of the whereabouts of your original Will at all times to ensure that it is easily accessible in the event of the testator\u2019s passing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When an original Will cannot be found and its last known location was with the deceased, there exists a legal principle called the \u2018presumption of revocation\u2019, which presumes that the Will has been destroyed by the willmaker themselves with an intention to revoke its contents. For an executor to administer the Estate according to this Will, they must rebut the presumption and establish that the deceased did not revoke their Will. They must establish that although only a copy of a Will can be located, the deceased intended this to be their final Will.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, it is important to ensure that your original Will is free of alterations: be careful not to remove the staples, not to attach anything to the document (even if it is with a paperclip!), and not to alter the appearance of the document in any way. These alterations may result in the validity and authenticity of your Will being brought into question. Whilst this may seem extreme, these measures are in place to protect the deceased\u2019s true wishes. There is no way to check the authenticity of a copy of a Will, and a court cannot go back and ask you after you die!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where should I safely store my Will?<\/b><\/p>\n

Hume Taylor and Co offer storage of Wills and other original documents at no cost in our safe and secure facilities. Due to our cataloguing system, fireproof storage and security system this is a more favourable option than storing them at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you wish to keep them at home a safety deposit box is the best way to ensure that your documents are as secure as possible. Although, it is important that others are aware of the whereabouts of your Will in your home and any passcodes to access it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to do if your Will has been lost\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

If you have:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Thoroughly searched through your home and any other place it may be, and<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Contacted the solicitors involved in the preparation of the Will to check if they are storing the original copy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    and you still cannot find the Will, you should contact a solicitor to prepare a new one. Long term, this saves money, stress and time delays in the event of your death by avoiding the risks and legal fees of finalising an Estate that does not have an original Will.\u00a0 Hume Taylor & Co have a team of experienced solicitors who can help with the preparation of a new Will if you cannot locate the original copy of your current one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    What to do if you are the executor of an Estate and the Will is lost<\/b><\/p>\n

    If you are the executor of an Estate and do not know where the original Will of the deceased person is, you should contact:<\/span><\/p>\n