Closed consultation

Storage and retention of original will documents

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

Applies to England and Wales

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Summary

A consultation on storage and retention of wills and other documents submitted in applications for probate.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

At present all of the wills and documents submitted in support of probate (legal authority to manage larger estates of deceased persons) are preserved indefinitely in the original paper form. These records date back to 1858.

This consultation paper proposes a reform that will enable older wills and documents to be converted to a digital form and then destroyed, with the wills of famous persons preserved. Views are sought on the proposals from interested parties.

Documents

Storage and retention of original will documents

Storage and retention of original will documents

Storage and retention of original will documents (print)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Storage and retention of original will documents (large print)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Storio a chadw dogfennau ewyllys gwreiddiol

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Updates to this page

Published 15 December 2023

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