So you've printed and signed your Will...now what? Your Will isn't going to be of much value if it is destroyed or cannot be found/accessed when the time comes, as the original Will is required by the Courts to obtain a grant of probate. As a result, you need to make sure it is stored somewhere that is both safe and accessible.
In keeping your Will safe, make sure that:
It is somewhere that it won't be easily damaged.
It is somewhere that it cannot be easily tampered with.
To make sure it is accessible, be sure that:
It is not locked in a safe or place that only you can access.
Your family is able to get to the document when they need to.
At least one person knows of its location.
Common places to store a Will include in a locked filing cabinet or safe at home (where someone else has access), or with a trusted professional or lawyer. A bank or safety deposit box may not be the best idea unless someone else has access to it and knows your Will is in there. Just make sure someone knows where to find your Will when the time comes!
Safewill also allows you to securely store a digital copy of your signed Will, giving you the added peace of mind that your Will can always be located. You can even notify your Executor that your Will is stored with us, providing an added measure of security that your document can be accessed by those who need it, when they need it You can also upload a digital copy of your signed Will to your Safewill account as a backup.
To access your Digital Vault and upload a scanned copy of your Will, follow these steps:
Log in to your Safewill account.
From your account dashboard, open the Digital Vault.
Click on the upload feature within the Digital Vault to add your scanned Will or any other important documents.
The Digital Vault is always available, regardless of your Will's current status, so you can upload your document at any time.
This process allows you to securely store your scanned Will and other legal documents in one place for easy access and safekeeping.
Notify your executor about the location of your Will and any uploaded documents.