Ideally, store your last will and testament in a place where it's safe from disasters such as fires or floods, safe from thieves or snoops, but it's also easy for your loved ones to find when the time comes. A will can be kept in your home in a personal safe, locked file cabinet, or other secure location. If you keep your will in a place that requires a combination, password, or password to enter, be sure to share that information with someone you trust, such as your spouse, adult children, or your lawyer. We recommend that our customers keep their original will in a fireproof safe or in a safe inside their home.
This will make them easily available and also emphasize that our customers give someone the information to enter the safe or safe so that they can access documents when needed, without additional stress or delay. This could be someone like your appointed executor or a trusted loved one. If you didn't use an attorney and aren't interested in hiring one to keep your will, the next best place to leave your will is with your executor. Your executor is the person who will file your will in probate court when you die.
If your executor already has your will, it's easy for them to file it on time. They won't have to place their will with other people or among their possessions. In addition to leaving your will with your lawyer or executor, there are alternative places where you can leave your will. In those cases, you should take precautions to ensure that the will is safe, accessible and private.
At a minimum, you should make sure to tell your executor where you keep your will. It is your executor who must locate your will and file it in court. It may also be appropriate to tell your lawyer where you keep your original will if you don't keep it with your lawyer. Addressing concerns such as safety, accessibility, and ease can help you feel a sense of relief when it comes to something as important as your last will and testament. Now that you know that you need a physical copy of your Last Will and Testament, you may be wondering where to keep it. The best place for storing a last will and testament is somewhere secure yet accessible.
Ideally, this should be a place where it's safe from disasters such as fires or floods, safe from thieves or snoops, but it's also easy for your loved ones to find when the time comes. A personal safe at home is an excellent option for keeping a last will and testament secure yet accessible. If you choose this option, make sure to share the combination or password with someone you trust such as a spouse, adult children, or lawyer. Another option is to leave the last will and testament with an executor who can file it in probate court when the time comes. If this is not possible, there are other places where you can store the document such as a fireproof safe or locked file cabinet at home.
In any case, make sure to tell someone where the document is located so that they can access it when needed. By taking these precautions and addressing concerns such as safety, accessibility, and ease of access when storing a last will and testament, you can feel confident that it is secure and accessible when needed.
