Can I use a photocopy of the will?

Not as of right. A copy can be admitted only where the registry accepts evidence that the original was not deliberately revoked.

Process · 5 min read

The will is missing — what now?

Search thoroughly before concluding there is no will. If only a copy survives, the estate can sometimes still be administered under it, but the registry needs to be persuaded.

Written and reviewed by Ramani Gill, Founder & CEO — Solicitor, TEP, BA, LLM. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.

Where to search

Any solicitor the deceased used, including for a house purchase
The National Will Register, and the Principal Registry's will safe deposit service
Bank safe deposit boxes and home files
The deceased's own paperwork — a will receipt or storage certificate often survives when the will does not
The bank or a will-writing company, which may hold the original

If only a copy exists

The law presumes that a will last known to be in the deceased's possession, and now missing, was destroyed with the intention of revoking it. That presumption can be rebutted with evidence, and an application can be made to admit a copy to probate.

Evidence of how the will came to be lost
Evidence that the deceased did not intend to revoke it
Affidavit evidence from the will's draftsman or a witness
Consent from anyone who would be worse off under the copy than under intestacy

This needs a solicitor

Admitting a copy will to probate is an evidence-based application to the registry. It is one of the few probate situations where professional help is genuinely necessary.

Doing this yourself?

Our guided service walks an executor through valuations, the HMCTS forms and the estate accounts for a one-off £349.

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If no will is found

The estate is administered under the intestacy rules, and the person entitled applies for letters of administration on form PA1A.

GOV.UK — Search for a will

Common questions

Can I use a photocopy of the will?: Not as of right. A copy can be admitted only where the registry accepts evidence that the original was not deliberately revoked.

Not sure whether this estate is straightforward?

The free suitability checker asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, and tells you in a few minutes whether a self-help route is sensible — or whether you should speak to a solicitor. No account needed.

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