When a person sadly passes away, finding their will can be difficult, especially if they passed away unexpectedly or with no friends or family who appear to be in contact with the individual. If no Will exists the person will have died 'Intestate' and their estate will be distributed in line with the 'rules of intestacy'.

Locating a valid Will is important as it will inform those relevant how the persons possessions, finances and assets (their 'Estate) should be dealt with after their death.  A copy of any Will should be held by the deceased and their Executor/s should know where a copy is kept or be in their possession for safe keeping.

However, this is not always the case.  A Will could have been made a number of years before the persons passing and communications with the Executor or family have ceased or the Executor is simply not aware of the persons passing.

As an executor, you have a legal duty to distribute the deceased’s estate correctly. If any mistakes are made, you could be held financially responsible.

To avoid the incorrect administration of an 'estate' or issues arriving at a later stage,  due diligence should be taken in order to search for a registered or unregistered Will in the UK.

Initially a search of the deceased's personal belongings should be made to ensure no copy of a Will is in their possession.  It would be advisably to also speak with the deceased's bank as they may be holding a copy for safe keeping.  Speaking with the deceased's friends and family may also lead to clues regarding the deceased's intentions after they have passed or if they are aware of the existence of a Will or its whereabouts.

If still no Will has been located then a further, professional search should be undertaken. 

Searching for a Will can be time consuming and Harrisons Asset Search Solutions are able to offer a WILL SEARCH option to suit your requirements via our different search packages.