People often wrongly think that their Will is completely private and only viewed by their chosen executors and the person that drafts their Will. However, this is only the case when your estate is small and does not require a grant of probate. When a grant of probate is required, Executors must send the Will to the probate registry to apply for the legal document that allows them to distribute your estate. Once the probate has been granted the Will becomes a public document and anyone can pay a small fee to view it.
Sometimes this isn’t a problem however it might be best to include any private information in a Letter of Wishes which can be stored and referenced in your Will but will never become public. This letter may explain include a family secret that should only be shared with a few or reasons for your estate distribution.
Your Will remains private while you are alive. Your executors have the right to see it after your death and before probate is granted, but not the beneficiaries.
Morgan Wills & Estates are a local will writing and estate planning company based in Deepcar, Sheffield, S36. Our friendly team are dedicated to helping you get essential documents in place. We offer Wills, Trust Wills, Property Trust Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and executor support when someone you love passes. We offer appointments in our local office, online or in the comfort of your own home. If you’d like to book in a 30 minute, complimentary chat, please click here.