Where should you keep your Will?

The original, signed Will is the only legal binding version of the Will. Copies are not usually valid, so you need to keep your original Will safe. You should not keep it at home. If it is lost, stolen or damaged (e.g. in a house fire), then you effectively haven't made a Will. It has been known for Wills to be destroyed by aggrieved people who could benefit from an earlier Will or from intestacy.

Equally, there seems little point in putting a Will under floorboards, in a secret drawer or whatever so that no-one can find it when it’s needed. You should tell everyone that you have made a Will and where it is. Your Will should be stored in a safe and secure place and its whereabouts known to those who will be beneficiaries and executors and how to get access to it. If you have appointed a professional as an executor they may store the Will free of charge as they will benefit from the fees they will charge for the executorship.

If your Will is stored independently there will probably be a charge, either a one-off payment or an annual amount.