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.
To ensure your Will is professionally written you can contact us here or call 0114 339 5236
