where should a will be kept to be legal?

[donnajayne]

A family member has recently passed away, a will has been found at home dated 1985, however as the family member knew she was dying we know that she had made all arrangements and left notes etc which appear to have disappeared?? I have been told that a will is not legal if it remains at home and that it must be in the hands of a solictor is this true? please help.

[coco pops]

It doesn't have to be held by a solicitor in England and can be kept at home.

[dannydingbat]

And it remains legal even if it is destroyed, unless its destruction is by the person who made it intentionally to do so.

[dzug]

Unless she made a new will specifically cancelling the old 1985 one it is still valid. The 'notes' are of no legal standing whatsoever unless one of them cancelled the old will - if that can be proven the laws of intestacy come into play.

And as cocopops says, a will can perfectly legally be kept at home - as mine is.

The only exception I can think of is that if she married after making the 1985 will - in that case the marriage will have revoked it.