David, 52, a management consultant from Leeds, spent £780 with a solicitor to create his will in 2018. He stored it carefully in a fireproof safe at home and told his wife Sarah exactly where to find it.
Six years later, after David died suddenly from a heart attack, Sarah found the safe—but couldn't remember the combination. After an expensive locksmith visit, she discovered David had updated his will in 2021 after their daughter was born, but the safe only contained the 2018 version.
The newer will, which left significantly more to their daughter's education fund, was eventually found at his office desk three months into probate. If David had registered both wills with the National Will Register for £30 each, Sarah would have known immediately that a 2021 will existed and where to find it.
According to the National Will Register's own data, 1 in 5 will searches finds a will that was presumed missing or discovers a later will that supersedes an earlier one—exactly David's situation.
This guide examines whether the National Will Register's £30 registration fee is worth it for your circumstances, how it actually works, what it does (and doesn't) protect against, and whether simpler storage solutions might be enough.
Table of Contents
- What Is the National Will Register?
- How Does the National Will Register Work?
- The Problem the National Will Register Solves
- What the National Will Register Does NOT Do
- Who Actually Benefits from Registration?
- How to Register (If You Decide It's Worth It)
- Alternatives to the National Will Register
- How Executors Search the Register After You Die
- The Bottom Line: Is It Worth £30?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is the National Will Register?
The National Will Register (also known as Certainty) is a private database that records the existence and location of wills in England and Wales. It doesn't store the actual will documents themselves—only basic information about where your will is kept.
Operated by OneAdvanced and endorsed by the Law Society of England and Wales, the database currently contains records of over 10.5 million wills. This represents approximately half of all UK wills, making it the country's largest will registration service.
Registration is entirely voluntary. There is no legal requirement under the Wills Act 1837 or any other UK legislation to register your will anywhere. Your will remains just as legally valid whether you register it or not.
What the register records:
- Your full name and date of birth
- The date your will was created
- Where the physical will is stored (solicitor's address, bank vault location, etc.)
- Contact details of whoever holds the will
What the register doesn't record:
- The contents of your will
- Who your beneficiaries are
- The value of your estate
- Any confidential information about your wishes
Think of it this way: if you store your will with Harrison & Co Solicitors at 45 High Street, Manchester M1 2AB, the National Will Register records exactly that information. Nothing more. The register doesn't know whether you're leaving £10,000 or £10 million, or who inherits.
This crucial distinction between will storage (physical safekeeping of the document) and will registration (database entry of its location) confuses many people. You still need to arrange safe storage for your physical will separately—registration simply creates a searchable record of where it is.
How Does the National Will Register Work?
The registration and search process is straightforward, designed to be accessible to the public while maintaining strict security controls.
Registration Process
You can register your will in three ways: online at nationalwillregister.co.uk, by post, or through your solicitor. Most solicitors who draft wills register them automatically as part of their service.
The online registration takes approximately 60 seconds. You'll need to provide your full name, date of birth, the date of your will, and complete storage details including the full address of where your will is kept and contact information for whoever holds it.
The cost is £30 plus VAT, totalling £36 as a one-off fee. There are no annual renewals or subscription charges—this is a lifetime registration. Every May, during Free Will Registration Month, the fee is waived and registration is completely free.
After registration, you receive a confirmation certificate with a unique registration number for your records.
Search Process
After someone dies, executors, solicitors, family members, or anyone with a legitimate interest can search the register. The search costs from £38 plus VAT (approximately £45.60 total).
The search checks the National Will Register's database of 10.5 million wills plus conducts a geographically targeted search of solicitors and will writers in the deceased's area who haven't registered their wills. This broader search increases the chances of finding wills that weren't formally registered.
Before the will's location is disclosed, the searcher must provide proof of identity and a copy of the death certificate. This security measure ensures your registration cannot be accessed while you're alive.
Results typically arrive within 48 hours, often on the same day. If a registered will is found, you'll receive the exact storage location, the will's date, and contact details for retrieving it.
If you move your will to a new location or create a new will, you must update your registration. This update is free, but it's your responsibility—the register won't know unless you tell them.
What You Pay | What You Get | What You DON'T Get |
---|---|---|
£30 one-off | Location recorded in searchable database | Will storage |
£30 one-off | Peace of mind will can be found | Will contents stored |
£30 one-off | Free updates if you move will | Copy of your will |
£30 one-off | Lifetime registration (no renewals) | Legal advice |
The Problem the National Will Register Solves
Lost and missing wills create serious legal and financial consequences for families every year. The scale of this problem is larger than most people realize.
Research from the National Will Register found that two-thirds of UK adults don't know whether their parents have a will or where to find it. When a will cannot be located after someone dies, the law presumes it was intentionally revoked (destroyed), potentially leading the entire estate to be distributed under intestacy rules instead of according to the deceased's wishes.
According to the Legal Ombudsman, wills and probate is the third most complained-about area of law, making up 13% of the 8,000+ complaints resolved annually. Many of these complaints involve difficulties locating wills or disputes about which version is valid.
The National Will Register's own statistics show that 1 in 5 searches finds a will that was presumed missing—a 20% success rate that represents thousands of estates saved from incorrect distribution each year.
Margaret's situation illustrates the problem perfectly.
Margaret, 78, from Bristol, made a will with a high-street solicitor in 2005, leaving her £340,000 estate equally between her three children. The solicitor's firm merged with another firm in 2012, then ceased trading in 2018.
When Margaret died in 2023, her children had no idea a will existed. They began distributing her estate under intestacy rules—until her executor decided to pay £45 for a National Will Register search.
The search found the 2005 will, now held by a different firm in Birmingham. Without the search, the middle child (who was estranged) would have received nothing under intestacy, but the will gave her £113,000.
The multiple wills problem creates even more confusion.
James created a will in 2010, then updated it in 2018 after remarrying, and updated it again in 2022 after his first grandchild was born. He kept the 2010 will in a safe at home (forgetting it was there), gave the 2018 will to his solicitor, and kept the 2022 will in his desk drawer.
After James died, his family found the 2010 will in the safe and began acting on it—unaware that two later wills existed that significantly changed his wishes. If all three wills had been registered, executors would immediately know which was the latest and where to find it.
Registration prevents:
- Estates being distributed under intestacy when a valid will exists
- Wrong beneficiaries inheriting because an outdated will was found first
- Family disputes about whether a will exists or which version is valid
- Expensive court proceedings to resolve "lost will" situations
- Executors being personally liable if they distribute the estate based on the wrong will
The 1 in 5 success rate means registration has a genuine 20% probability of preventing these serious problems for your family.
What the National Will Register Does NOT Do
Many people misunderstand what registration includes or protects against. Here's what the National Will Register cannot do for you.
It Doesn't Store Your Will
The National Will Register does NOT store your physical will document. It only records where you've stored it.
You still need to arrange separate storage—with a solicitor, in a bank's document storage service, in a home safe, or wherever you choose. The register is like the DVLA for wills: the DVLA doesn't keep your car safe, it just records who owns it and where it is.
It Doesn't Protect Your Will from Being Contested
Registration has no bearing on will validity or legal challenges. It doesn't prevent family members from contesting your will, making claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, or challenging your testamentary capacity.
Registration simply helps executors locate the will to begin probate. What happens after they find it is a separate matter entirely.
It Doesn't Make Your Will Legal
Registration is completely optional—there's zero legal requirement to register a will in England and Wales.
What makes a will legally valid is proper execution under the Wills Act 1837: you must be 18 or older, have testamentary capacity, sign the will in the presence of two independent witnesses, and have those witnesses sign in your presence.
An unregistered will is just as legally valid as a registered one. Registration is about findability, not validity.
It Doesn't Notify Your Executors Automatically
The register is passive—executors must actively search it after you die. The National Will Register doesn't contact anyone automatically when you pass away.
This means your executors still need to know the register exists and think to search it. If they don't know about the service, registration provides no benefit.
It Doesn't Update Automatically If You Move Your Will
You must manually update the register whenever you move your will to a new location. If you move your will from solicitor A to solicitor B but don't update the register, executors will be sent to the wrong place—defeating the entire purpose of registration.
Updates are free and can be done online or by phone, but remembering to do it is your responsibility.
The key takeaway: The National Will Register is a location service, not a storage service, legal protection service, or automatic notification service. It does one thing well—records where your will is so executors can find it if they think to search.
Who Actually Benefits from Registration?
Registration isn't valuable for everyone. Here's an honest assessment of who genuinely benefits from the £30 fee and who probably doesn't need it.
You Probably Should Register If:
1. Your will is stored with a solicitor who might close or merge
Law firms merge, close, or relocate with surprising frequency. The National Will Register creates a permanent record that survives firm closures.
If Davidson & Partners closes in 2030, the register ensures executors can still trace where your will ended up, even if the firm's records are scattered across multiple successor practices.
2. You've made multiple wills over the years
Registration prevents confusion about which will is the latest valid version. Each registration is timestamped, clearly showing that your 2024 will supersedes your 2015 and 2005 versions.
3. You store your will at home and worry about it being overlooked
Even if you tell executors "it's in the study desk," they might not find it in the chaos and grief after your death. Registration provides a backup verification that the will exists and exactly where to look.
4. Your family doesn't communicate well or might dispute your estate
An independent third-party record prevents arguments about whether a will exists. You can't argue with a database entry—the will exists, it was made on this date, and here's where it is.
5. You're highly organized and want everything perfect
If you're the type who labels everything and creates detailed emergency instructions, registration fits your approach. It appeals to the same personality that maintains detailed filing systems and emergency contact lists.
You Probably Don't Need to Register If:
1. You store your will at home and your executors know exactly where
If you've clearly told 2-3 people "it's in the red folder in the filing cabinet," they'll find it. Save the £30—the problem registration solves doesn't exist for you.
2. You use an online will service that provides digital access
Services like WUHLD provide executors with secure access to digital copies and clear storage instructions. Digital backup systems may be more reliable than registration alone.
3. Your estate is very simple and you're unlikely to update your will
Single person, no children, leaving everything to one sibling? If you made one straightforward will that won't change, registration adds limited value.
4. You're storing your will with a bank's document storage service
Banks keep extensive records, and your executor will contact your bank anyway as part of estate administration. Don't use safety deposit boxes (executors can't access them without probate), but dedicated will storage services are fine without registration.
Your Situation | Registration Value | Better Alternative? |
---|---|---|
Will with solicitor | HIGH | Maybe—depends on firm stability |
Will at home, told executors | LOW | Just tell 2-3 people clearly |
Multiple wills over time | HIGH | Always register updated wills |
Digital will service | LOW | Service provides own access |
Complex/disputable estate | MEDIUM | Helpful but won't prevent disputes |
How to Register (If You Decide It's Worth It)
If registration makes sense for your situation, here's exactly how to do it.
Option 1: Online Registration (Fastest)
Visit nationalwillregister.co.uk/register-a-will and complete the 60-second online form.
You'll need: your full name, date of birth, the date of your will, complete storage address, and contact details of whoever holds it.
Pay £30 + VAT (£36 total) by debit or credit card. You'll receive immediate email confirmation with your registration certificate.
Option 2: Through Your Solicitor (Automatic)
Most solicitors register wills automatically when they draft them. The cost is usually included in their fee or charged separately as £30-40.
Ask your solicitor: "Will you register this with the National Will Register?" to confirm they'll handle it. Zero effort required on your part.
Option 3: By Post (Slowest)
Download the registration form from the National Will Register website and send it with a cheque for £36 to:
Certainty (The National Will Register) Friars House 157-168 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8EZ
Processing takes 5-10 working days.
Free Registration Option
Every May during Free Will Registration Month, registration is completely free—saving you £36. If you're making your will in April, consider waiting until May 1st to register at no cost.
Updating Your Registration
Update your registration whenever you move your will or create a new one. Log in at nationalwillregister.co.uk or call 0330 055 0990. Updates are free, but you must remember to do them.
You'll receive an email confirmation, registration certificate, and unique registration number. Keep the certificate with your important documents.
Alternatives to the National Will Register
Several other strategies can ensure your will can be found, including free options that may work just as well for your situation.
Alternative 1: Tell Multiple People Where Your Will Is
Inform your executors, spouse, adult children, and one trusted friend of the exact location. Be specific: "In the filing cabinet, top drawer, red folder labeled 'WILL 2024.'"
Cost: £0 Effectiveness: High if you tell 2-3 people (not just one) Limitation: People forget, or might not have access if relationships change
Alternative 2: Store with a Solicitor (with Written Confirmation)
Solicitors store wills in their vault or archive and give you a storage receipt. This often costs nothing (they hope to be appointed executor) or £50-150 as a one-off fee.
Solicitors have transfer protocols when firms merge or close, making this safer than it might appear. Keep the storage receipt with your important papers—executors will find it.
If you create a will with WUHLD, we provide clear storage guidance and you choose where to store it.
Alternative 3: Probate Service Safe Custody (Government Option)
HM Courts & Tribunals Service offers will storage for £23 (recently increased from £20). Send your will to:
Principal Registry of the Family Division First Avenue House 42-49 High Holborn London WC1V 6NP
Advantage: Government-backed storage, immune to company closures Limitation: You cannot retrieve your will during your lifetime (it's "sealed"), making updates complicated
More details at gov.uk/government/publications/store-a-will-with-the-probate-service.
Alternative 4: Digital Will Services with Executor Access
Online will services like WUHLD provide secure digital copies and clear executor access instructions. Executors receive detailed guidance on accessing the will, making registration less critical.
Cost: Included in will creation fee (£99.99 with WUHLD vs £650+ solicitor) Best practice: Store physical original securely, but digital backup provides a safety net
Alternative 5: Leave a "Will Information Card" in Your Wallet
Some people carry a small card stating: "In case of death, my will is stored at [location]."
Cost: £0 Effectiveness: Moderate—only helps if you die suddenly and someone checks your wallet Limitation: Doesn't help if you die at home or in hospital long-term care
Method | Cost | Effectiveness | Ease of Use |
---|---|---|---|
National Will Register | £30 | High | Very Easy |
Tell multiple people | £0 | Medium-High | Very Easy |
Solicitor storage | £0-150 | High | Easy |
Probate Service storage | £23 | High | Medium (can't retrieve) |
Digital service access | Included | High | Very Easy |
The most effective approach: Combine two methods. Register with the National Will Register AND tell 2-3 people where your will is stored. Redundancy ensures your wishes are followed.
How Executors Search the Register After You Die
If you're an executor or family member trying to find someone's will, here's how to search the National Will Register.
Who Can Search
Named executors, solicitors acting for the estate, family members, next of kin, beneficiaries, or anyone with a legitimate interest can request a search.
Search Process Step-by-Step
Step 1: Request a search at nationalwillregister.co.uk/search-for-a-will
You'll need the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, and last known address.
Cost: From £38 + VAT (approximately £45.60 total), payable by debit/credit card online or invoice for solicitors.
Step 2: Provide verification
You must provide a copy of the official death certificate and prove your identity and relationship to the deceased or estate. This security prevents unauthorized access while someone is alive.
Step 3: Receive search results
Results arrive within 48 hours, often the same day. If a will is found, you'll receive the exact storage location (solicitor name and address, storage facility, etc.) and the date of the will.
If no will is found, you'll receive a certificate confirming no registered will exists—though this doesn't mean no will exists at all, just that it wasn't registered.
The search covers the National Will Register's database of 10.5 million wills PLUS a geographically targeted search of local solicitors and will writers who haven't registered their wills.
What Search Results Tell You
"Will of [deceased name] dated [date] is stored at [company name], [full address], contact [phone/email]."
Next Steps After Finding a Will
Contact the solicitor or storage provider listed, provide the death certificate and executor identification, retrieve the will to begin probate, and verify it's the most recent will by checking the date.
If multiple wills are found, the search results will show all registered wills with dates. The most recent dated will is the valid one—earlier wills are automatically revoked. Contact all storage locations to retrieve all versions and confirm which is latest.
The search fee (£38+) is an allowable estate expense that can be claimed back from the estate during probate. There's no personal cost to the executor if the estate has assets.
Important note for executors: Even if the search finds no registered will, this doesn't confirm the deceased died intestate. They may have made a will without registering it. Continue searching their home, asking their solicitor, and checking with their bank.
The Bottom Line: Is It Worth £30?
Here's the evidence-based conclusion weighing the modest cost against real-world benefits.
The Math
Cost: £30 + VAT = £36 one-off payment Value if needed: Prevents potential intestacy distribution errors worth thousands or tens of thousands of pounds Probability of use: 1 in 5 searches finds a will that was presumed missing—20% success rate Cost of alternatives: Government probate storage is £23; solicitor storage often free but less searchable
When £30 Is Absolutely Worth It
- Multiple wills over your lifetime: Registration creates a clear chronological record (worth it)
- Solicitor storage with uncertain firm stability: Provides permanent backup if the firm closes (worth it)
- Complicated family situations: Creates an independent third-party record to prevent disputes (worth it)
- You're highly organized and want peace of mind: £30 for certainty your family won't struggle (worth it)
- Large or complex estate: The 0.01% cost vs estate value makes it negligible insurance (worth it)
When £30 Is Optional or Questionable
- Simple estate, will at home, executors clearly informed: Low risk of will being lost (probably not worth it)
- Using online will service with digital backup: Modern services provide executor access anyway (optional)
- Very small estate under £10,000: Cost-benefit less compelling for modest estates (optional)
The Honest Verdict
For most people with estates over £50,000, £30 is such a trivial percentage of estate value (0.06% on a £50,000 estate, 0.01% on a £300,000 estate) that registration provides inexpensive peace of mind.
The 1 in 5 success rate of searches means registration has a genuine 20% probability of preventing serious problems for your family.
However, registration is NOT a substitute for basic organization. If you don't tell anyone you made a will, don't tell your executors where it is, and don't store it safely, registration won't help—executors must know to search the register in the first place.
Our recommendation:
- DO register if: Will with solicitor, multiple wills, complex estate, or poor family communication
- DON'T stress about registration if: Simple estate, clear storage plan, told 2-3 people where will is
- ALWAYS prioritize: Making a valid will in the first place (many people over-research registration and never actually make the will)
WUHLD's Approach
WUHLD provides clear will storage guidance and executor instructions as part of our £99.99 service. While we don't automatically register wills (you control where your will is stored), we provide all the information needed for executors to find your will.
If you want the additional security of National Will Register registration, you can easily do so yourself for £30—or wait until Free Will Registration Month in May and register for free.
The most important step is making your will. Don't let research paralysis about registration prevent you from creating your will today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my will with the National Will Register?
No, registering a will with the National Will Register is completely voluntary in the UK. There is no legal requirement to register your will anywhere. However, registration helps ensure your will can be found after you die, preventing your estate from being distributed under intestacy rules.
How much does it cost to register a will with the National Will Register?
The National Will Register charges a one-off fee of £30 plus VAT (£36 total) to register your will's location. This is a lifetime registration with no ongoing fees. The service offers free registration during May each year during Free Will Registration Month.
What's the difference between will storage and will registration?
Will storage means keeping your physical will document somewhere safe (solicitor, bank, home safe). Will registration means recording your will's existence and location on a central database. The National Will Register only registers the location—it doesn't store your actual will document. You need both: safe storage for the physical document AND optional registration so executors can find it.
Can executors search the National Will Register after someone dies?
Yes, executors, solicitors, and family members can search the National Will Register for £38 plus VAT (approximately £45.60). The search checks over 10.5 million registered wills. Importantly, 1 in 5 searches finds a will that was presumed missing or discovers a later will that supersedes an earlier one. The search cost is an allowable estate expense that can be claimed back during probate.
Is the National Will Register safe and confidential?
Yes, the National Will Register is highly secure and confidential. It only stores your name, date of birth, and where your will is located—not the will contents. Access requires identity verification and a death certificate, so your information cannot be accessed while you're alive. The service is operated by OneAdvanced and exclusively endorsed by the Law Society.
What happens if I move my will after registering it?
You must update your registration whenever you move your will to a new location. This can be done online or by phone at no additional cost. If you fail to update the location and your executors search the register, they'll be directed to the wrong place, defeating the purpose of registration. Always update your registration whenever you relocate your will or create a new will.
Does WUHLD register wills with the National Will Register?
WUHLD provides clear guidance on storing your will safely and can advise on National Will Register registration. While WUHLD doesn't automatically register wills (you control where your will is stored), we provide all the information executors need to find your will, and you can easily register its location yourself for £30. Our service includes detailed executor instructions and digital backup options.
Conclusion
Key takeaways:
- The National Will Register is a voluntary database (not government-run) that records where your will is stored—not the will itself—for a £30 one-off fee
- 1 in 5 searches finds a will that was presumed missing or discovers a later will, making it genuinely valuable for preventing intestacy and family confusion
- Registration is most worthwhile if you store your will with a solicitor, have made multiple wills, have a complex estate, or want absolute certainty your family can find your will
- You can skip registration if you have a simple estate, store your will at home, and clearly tell 2-3 people exactly where it is—but registration still provides useful insurance
- The register is completely confidential (requires death certificate to access) and exclusively endorsed by the Law Society, making it trustworthy and secure
The most important gift you can give your family isn't a perfectly registered will in a database—it's a valid will in the first place. Too many people spend weeks researching will registration, storage options, and legal complexities, yet never actually make their will.
Registration costs £30 and takes 60 seconds. Making your will costs £99.99 with WUHLD and takes 15 minutes. Do the important thing first—make the will today—and decide about registration later.
Create your legally valid UK will with WUHLD for £99.99—no solicitor appointments, no £650+ fees, no subscription charges. In just 15 minutes online, you'll have a complete will with all required documents.
Preview your will completely free before paying anything, with no credit card required. Your family deserves the security of knowing your wishes—start creating your will now and make registration decisions afterward.
Preview Your Will Free – No Payment Required
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- UK Will Requirements: Is Your Will Legally Valid?
Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the National Will Register and does not constitute legal advice. WUHLD is not affiliated with the National Will Register. For advice specific to your individual situation, please consult a qualified solicitor. WUHLD's online will service is suitable for straightforward UK estates; complex situations may require professional legal advice.
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