With the now conventional wisdom that will disputes are on the rise and are set to remain as such, it’s paramount to everyone involved in the handling of a will that everything is above board when it comes to writing the will, storing the will and then executing the will in accordance with the testator’s wishes. Through utilising The National Will Register, law firms can significantly reduce the risk of will disputes and the associated costs – both monetary and in terms of time and resource.
The National Will Register, powered by Advanced, enables law firms to register the wills they write and search for wills registered by others, as well as those that have not yet been registered. By registering wills, law firms can ensure that the location of the original will is known, which can prevent disputes from arising later. Similarly, by searching for wills before administering probate, law firms can ensure that they have identified all relevant wills and can take the necessary steps to administer the estate accordingly.
The financial advantages of using The National Will Register are clear. Firstly, the cost of registering a will is just £30 plus VAT, which is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the will can be easily located once needed. Secondly, by avoiding will disputes, law firms can save significant amounts of money that would otherwise be spent on legal fees and court costs. This can help to preserve the value of the estate and ensure that beneficiaries receive the inheritance they are entitled to.
The importance of registering and also searching for wills is highlighted by the fact that one in five wills found through a Will Search impacts estate administration by finding a will that was unknown to the executor or superseded a known will. This can cause significant delays and expenses for all parties involved, which is why it is so important to ensure that all relevant wills have been identified before administering probate.
Furthermore, research has shown that two-thirds of UK adults do not know if their parents have a will or where to find it. This highlights the importance of law firms taking steps to ensure that wills are properly registered and stored, as this can prevent disputes from arising in the future and can help to ensure that estates are administered smoothly and efficiently, as well as that wills are searched for before advancing with estate administration to ratify testacy beyond doubt.
With over 10 million wills registered in its system, The National Will Register is a trusted and reliable service that can help law firms to protect their clients' interests and ensure that estates are administered correctly. By registering wills and searching for wills before administering probate, law firms can save significant amounts of money and help to preserve the value of the estate for beneficiaries.