One way is to try and find a Will is to use the Certainty National Wills Register.

The Register is used by the legal professions to register which solicitor holds which Wills.  If you feel the Will you are looking for is registered, then do a search of Certainty’s Register.  The cost is approx £40.00.

Alternatively you could ask for a more thorough Combined Search which is usually combines 3 searches; the Register, REACH solicitor search and Missing Will/Notice Board.  The cost is approx. £108.00

The public can request a search via the internet… http://www.certainty.co.uk.

It is a good idea to do a search anyway to try and establish whether or not there is indeed a Will or that you have the most up to date version.  The REACH Solicitor search contacts solicitors and Will Writers across the country in areas where the person lived, worked or had other connections.

The cost of a search is an allowable disbursement and can be reclaimed from the estate.

If you are an Executor or Personal Representative of an estate then you can be held liable for proving the wrong Will or proving an intestacy (ie an estate without a Will) when in fact there was a Will.   We recommend you do a search to protect yourself as Executor/PR.