Search for a will
Search for a will with The National Will Register to check if a will was made or confirm you have the most up-to-date version to correctly administer an estate.
Get startedChoose Your Will Search
If you are a legal professional, please log into your account to activate a search, or contact the team to set your account up.
Search option
Will Register Search
A Will Register Search checks to see if a will or later will exists and has been registered. It is recommended if you are in possession of a will registration certificate or believe that the will you are looking for was registered
Checks to see if a will has been registered with The National Will Register, which currently sits at over 10.5 million records
Will Registration is not compulsory in the UK, which means that not all wills are on the National Will Register. If you do not have a Will registration certificate consider upgrading to a Will Search Combined to search for registered and unregistered wills
Takes up to 48 hours to complete
£65.00
(Inc VAT)
Search option
Will Search Combined
– most popular search
A Will Search Combined performs three key searches to look for wills that have been registered and for wills that have not been registered
Will Register Search – Checks to see if a will has been registered with The National Will Register, which currently sits at over 10.5 million records
REACH Search – A nationwide, geographically targeted search for wills that have not been registered amongst law firms and professional will writers from IPW and SWW
Missing Will Noticeboard – Places a notice on the Missing Will Notice Board issued to The National Will Register member solicitors
If required, we can put you in touch with a provider for Missing Will Insurance
Takes up to 28 days to complete
£140.00
(Inc VAT)
Search option
COP Will Search
A Court of Protection Will Search is a specialist will search for someone who is still alive and has lost testamentary capacity, to support deputies and attorneys who are acting in their best interests. Please note, if a match is found, a deputyship order or power of attorney will be required.
Will Register Search – Checks to see if a will has been registered with The National Will Register, which currently sits at over 10.5 million records
REACH Search – A nationwide, geographically targeted search for wills that have not been registered amongst law firms and professional will writers from IPW and SWW
Missing Will Noticeboard – Places a notice on the Missing Will Notice Board that is issued to The National Will Register member solicitors
Takes up to 28 days to complete
£140.00
(Inc VAT)
Will searches help to provide clarity
“Very helpful in finding my dad’s will after the original solicitors had gone out of business.” – Les Hollis
What is a will search?
A will search searches The National Will Register, accessing over 10.5 million UK wills in the system, and also in geographically targeted areas for wills that have not been registered.
When is a will search used?
To help avoid issues arising later in the process of distributing an estate during probate, it is important to identify whether a will exists and who holds the most up-to-date version before any probate work is undertaken.
Why is it important to search for a will?
To check there is no will before proceeding with an intestacy. To check the will held is the latest will and has not been superseded. To proceed with confidence in the correct administration of an estate. To find a lost will.
What are the risks of not searching?
Potential incorrectly distributed estate. Personal Representatives (an executor or administrator) have the legal authority and responsibility to distribute the estate correctly. They will be held liable should a later will come to light after the estate has been distributed.
What is the will search process?
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Will search starts
Upon successful completion of the form online, the will search begins.
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Positive match is made
If there is a positive match as a result of a search of The National Will Register or the wider REACH Search of unregistered wills in geographically targeted areas, the law firm or will writing organisation are notified and provided with the contact details of the person searching for the will.
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Searcher provides documentation to custodian
The person searching for the will is to provide documentation such as proof of ID and a death certificate to the organisation holding the will.
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Positive match is confirmed
If conditions are met to disclose the existence of the will, the custodian shall arrange for the will to be repatriated with the searcher.
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Will search report issued
Upon conclusion, a will search report is issued with the outcome of your will search to demonstrate this step taken in the estate administration process.
REAL STORIES
How a will search helped me
Although leading up to her death he assisted his mother with her affairs, she was private.
Will search assists son to locate his mother’s unknown will at local solicitor firm.
Read moreHow a will search helps
Will searches for the legal profession
SEARCH OPTION
Will Search Protect
A convenient way to carry out a will search and other items that may be required when distributing an estate. It performs a Will Search Combined, places a Section 27 Notice and obtains a quote for Missing Will & Trustee Indemnity Insurance.
A Will Search Combined – performs three key searches to look for wills that have been registered and for Wills that have not been registered, Will Register Search, Will REACH Search, Missing Will Noticeboard.
If required, we can put you in touch with a provider for Missing Will and Trustee indemnity insurance
Section 27 Notice – protects against any claims from creditors and/or beneficiaries that they have not had any notice of at the time that they convey or distribute the property in question.
Probate Registry Search – obtain a copy of the grant of representation and a will only if a grant is applied for. If the grant has not been applied for then the Probate Registry would not be aware of the will.
Probate Depository Search – an enquiry of the safe custody clerk at the principle registry of the family division.
Notice placed in a local newspaper (an optional add-on at £240+VAT per newspaper – contact the will search team to order)
£300.00
(Inc VAT)
Supportive Resources
Are you a legal professional?
Does your firm undertake probate work?
Get in touch with the team to become a listed probate professional and gain access to our wills and estate management platform.
Contact UsFrequently Asked Questions
Searching for a will with The National Will Register can help direct you towards a wills location or custodian.
A Will Register Search checks to see if a will or later will exists and has been registered. It is recommended if you are in possession of a will registration certificate or believe that the will you are looking for was registered.
A Will Search Combined performs three key searches to look for wills that have been registered and for wills that have not been registered, including a nationwide, geographically targeted search for wills amongst law firms and Professional Will Writers from IPW and SWW.
Yes – The National Will Register allows you to search for wills across the UK.
If a will isn’t registered, our service can guide you with additional checks. You can perform a Will Search Combined that geographically targets solicitors surrounding three chosen postcodes.
You can only find out if you are named in a will if you have access to it or if the executor provides you with this information after probate.
No, wills are not public records until probate is granted. After that, they can be accessed via official probate registries.