Lost will?

[doogied]

Does anyone know how I could go about finding out if someone who died a few years ago, had made out a will and filed it with a solicitor?

[dzug]

Assuming that the problem is - no will, then other than contacting all likely solicitors and asking, no, there is no way.

Solicitors do subscribe to various unofficial voluntary registers of wills so they would be able to consult those for you.

It's also possible to deposit a will with HMCS - but very few people do, and it can't be both there and with a solicitor

If there was a will and it was submitted for Probate, then the Probate Office will have records.

[buildersmate]

Your best bet is to work back through the Probate Service.
When someone dies, their representative invariably has to apply for a Grant of Representation. There are 3 types of grant - probate (when the Will appoints an executor), Letters of Administration (when there was a Will but the grant is made to someone not an executor) and LoA (when there was no Will).
I suppose there could be a few people with no possessions where none of these 3 are applied for - but in virtually every case, the Probate Service will have some record.
To get a Grant of Representation the original Will HAS to be given to the probate registrar who keeps it. A copy appears on both the grant issued and file records in the probate service.
If a Will was filed with a solicitor (and it could only be the original, or it would be pointless exercise), someone must have withdrawn it to get the necessary Grant of Rep.
You can get the Probate Service to do a search for a fee, or DIY for free. You need basic information like the full name and last address and date of death - otherwise it will be a needle-in-a-haystick job.
See here
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.htm#howdoi

[doogied]

Thank dzug and buildersmate for your helpful advice