Dealing with Missing Wills - The Options Explored

Introduction

What happens when a will is said to exist, but no one can find it?

For probate practitioners, a missing will can instantly turn a straightforward estate into a complex and contentious problem.

In an ideal world, wills would always be safely stored or registered with the National Wills Register, however, following the surge in unregulated will-writing services, practitioners are increasingly encountering cases where beneficiaries or executors insist a will was made, yet it cannot be located.

The resulting uncertainty often fuels disputes, delays, and costly litigation.

The good news is that a missing will does not have to bring the administration of an estate to a standstill.

There are clear, practical steps that can be taken to locate a will, assess the available options when it cannot be found, and successfully prove a copy will, helping practitioners minimise conflict, control costs, and move matters forward with confidence.

This new virtual classroom seminar provides practical guidance on dealing with missing wills, including search strategies, available legal routes where the original cannot be located, and how to prove a copy will using precedent claims, witness statements, and client questionnaires.

Register today to gain the tools you need to resolve these tricky situations efficiently and effectively.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive course will cover the following:

• Practical steps to take to obtain a will
• Relevant legal presumptions and how they affect an application for a grant
• Questions for executors to help decide if a valid will was made
• Procedure for applying for a grant in respect of nuncupative and copy wills
• Procedure for dealing with damaged wills
• What to include in a particular of claim to prove a copy will
• What to include in an affidavit in support of such a claim
• What to include in an affidavit supporting due execution
• Common errors to avoid
• Recent case law

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.