When a loved one passes away, one of the most pressing concerns is often locating their will, especially if it has been misplaced or isn’t immediately accessible. In Ireland, a will is critical to ensuring that a person’s last wishes are respected and that their estate is distributed according to their instructions. Without a will, the deceased’s estate is handled through the Succession Act 1965, which might not align with the deceased’s personal intentions. If you’re facing this challenging situation, here are practical ways to go about finding a missing will and how services like WillFinder.ie can ease this process.
The first place to begin a search is often in the deceased’s home, where they might have stored important documents in secure yet accessible locations. People often keep wills in personal safes, desk drawers, filing cabinets, or folders with other financial records. Many households have a dedicated spot for critical paperwork; starting here can often yield results without the need to explore external options.
If this initial search doesn’t produce the will, contacting the deceased’s solicitor is the next logical step. Many people in Ireland entrust their wills to a solicitor for safekeeping. Solicitors typically have secure storage systems for important documents, especially if they prepared the will for the deceased. Contacting the solicitor who handled the individual’s legal affairs may lead you directly to the document. However, if the deceased did not have a long-term solicitor or if the solicitor is retired or unreachable, there are additional avenues you can explore.
Banks are another place where wills are sometimes stored, as they offer safe deposit boxes for sensitive documents. You’ll need proper authorization to access these records, and each bank may have its own protocols to ensure only permitted individuals can access client documents. In some cases, if the will is stored in a safe deposit box under the deceased’s name, the bank can release it with appropriate legal authorization.
Beyond traditional methods, one of the most accessible and efficient modern tools in Ireland for finding missing wills is WillFinder.ie. Our online resource is specifically designed to connect individuals with wills stored across various institutions. By using Will Finder, you can conduct a broad search that includes solicitors, law firms, and other registered entities who may hold the document. The platform allows you to submit a query, which is then distributed to participating legal and financial institutions. If the will is located, you’re notified through the service. This centralised approach is especially helpful if there is uncertainty around where the deceased’s will might have been kept, or if they moved between regions and may have had multiple legal advisors.
Will Finder can save substantial time and effort by eliminating the need to contact multiple solicitors individually. Instead, the platform performs this outreach for you, contacting each registered firm on your behalf. The convenience of an online search also reduces stress during what is often a difficult time for the family, providing a streamlined approach to tracking down essential legal documents.
In some cases, the will might have been registered with the Probate Office in Ireland. Although wills are not typically stored there, if probate has already been granted, records of the will may be accessible through a request for public inspection. Additionally, consulting with close friends, relatives, or even the deceased’s executor (if known) may uncover clues about the document’s location, especially if the deceased shared their intentions before passing.
