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National Will Register

Also known as: Certainty - National Will Register, Will Registry

Definition

The National Will Register is a voluntary UK-wide database where you record that you've made a will and where it's stored, helping executors locate it after your death.

Understanding will registration is essential for ensuring your wishes can be found and followed when the time comes.

What Does National Will Register Mean?

The National Will Register is a private sector service operated by Certainty (part of OneAdvanced since 2021) and has been the Law Society's preferred provider of will registration and search services since 2006. With over 10.5 million wills in the system, it serves solicitors, will writers, charities, and the public across the UK. Crucially, the register records only the location of your will—not the actual will document or its contents. There is no legal requirement under the Wills Act 1837 to register your will; the service is entirely voluntary and designed to help executors locate wills after death.

Registration works through a simple process. You pay £30, provide your details (name, date of birth, date of will) and specify where your will is stored—such as "with Thompson & Partners Solicitors, Leeds" or "in safe at home, 42 Oak Road, Bristol." The National Will Register then sends you a certificate with a unique registration number. What's never recorded are the contents of your will—only the existence and location information. After your death, executors can search the register by providing a death certificate and paying a search fee: £38 plus VAT (£45.60) for a basic search checking the register only, or £95 plus VAT (£114) for a comprehensive search that also conducts geographic searches for unregistered wills. Search costs are allowable estate expenses, meaning they can be claimed back from your estate.

The service provides significant practical value. One in five will searches identifies a will that's either unknown to the family or supersedes a known will—directly affecting how the estate is distributed. Sarah, 52, registered her will with the National Will Register in 2010 for £30, recording that it was stored with her Leeds solicitor. When Sarah died 15 years later, her daughter Rebecca conducted a will search (£45.60) which immediately revealed the location, avoiding weeks of searching through Sarah's belongings and contacting multiple solicitors. Even more striking was David's case: his children found what they believed was his final will dated 2018 at home, but his executor conducted a comprehensive search (£114) which revealed David had made a newer will in 2022 with different solicitors in Manchester—a will the family knew nothing about. This discovery prevented distributing his £280,000 estate according to an outdated will.

Alternatives to the National Will Register include storing your will with the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) at the Principal Probate Registry for £20 (which stores the actual document, unlike the National Will Register which only records location), keeping it with your solicitor (usually free if they wrote the will), or storing it at home. However, executors conducting a will search is considered best practice and provides legal protection if a later will emerges after estate distribution has begun. While registration is entirely optional and your will remains valid without it, the £30 fee offers peace of mind that your executors can find your will when needed.

Common Questions

"Do I have to register my will with the National Will Register?" No, will registration is not compulsory in the UK. Your will remains legally valid whether or not it's registered. However, registering helps your executors locate your will after your death—over two-thirds of UK adults say they wouldn't know where to find their parents' wills, making registration a practical safeguard against your wishes being lost.

"Does the National Will Register store a copy of my will?" No, the National Will Register does not store your actual will document. It only records that a will exists, where it's stored, and who created it. The confidential contents of your will are never disclosed to the register—only the location information is kept. You still need separate arrangements for storing the physical document.

"How much does it cost to register a will with the National Will Register?" Registration costs £30 as a one-time fee for lifetime coverage. After death, executors can search the register for £38 plus VAT (£45.60), or conduct a comprehensive search (including unregistered wills) for £95 plus VAT (£114). Search costs are allowable estate expenses that can be claimed back from the estate.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: I have to register my will with the National Will Register for it to be legally valid.

Reality: Registration is entirely voluntary in the UK. Your will is legally valid as long as it meets the requirements of the Wills Act 1837—signed by you as testator and witnessed by two independent adults. The National Will Register is an optional service that helps executors locate wills after death; it has no bearing on legal validity.

Myth: When I register my will, the National Will Register keeps a copy of it.

Reality: The National Will Register only records where your will is stored—it never holds or stores the actual will document. It's a location database, not a storage facility. Your will remains with you, your solicitor, or wherever you've chosen to keep it; the register simply notes where that location is so executors can find it.

  • Will Search: The process of locating a deceased person's will, which commonly includes checking the National Will Register as a primary step.
  • Will Storage: The physical or digital storage of the actual will document—distinct from registration, which only records where the will is kept.
  • Probate: The legal process that executors must complete after locating the will, making will registration valuable for enabling timely probate applications.
  • Executor: The person named in your will who searches for and locates your will after death, often using the National Will Register.
  • Grant of Probate: The legal authority executors need to administer your estate, which cannot be obtained until the will is first located.

Need Help with Your Will?

The National Will Register helps executors find your will after death—but only if you've created one first. Understanding optional services like will registration is part of comprehensive estate planning, but the foundation is making a valid will that meets legal requirements.

Create your will with confidence using WUHLD's guided platform. For just £99.99, you'll get your complete, legally binding will plus three expert guides. Preview your will free before paying anything—no credit card required.

Legal Disclaimer:

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.