How to Get a Copy of a Will in the UK

Wills are not automatically public documents. But once probate is granted, they become part of the public record — and anyone can read them. Whether you are a beneficiary, a curious distant relative, or a genealogist piecing together a family tree, getting a copy of a will in the UK is straightforward and costs as little as £1.50.

To obtain a copy of a will in the UK, search the Probate Registry online at probatesearch.service.gov.uk. The search itself is free. If a grant of probate has been issued, you can download a copy of the will and the grant for £1.50 per document, delivered to your inbox within a few working days.

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When does a will become a public document?

A will is a private document during the testator's lifetime. It stays private after death too — until the executor applies for a grant of probate. Once probate is granted by the Probate Registry, the will is permanently on the public record. There is no time limit: a will granted probate in 1982 is just as accessible as one granted last month.

If the deceased died with assets that did not require probate — small estates, jointly-owned property passing by survivorship, assets held in trust — the will may never enter the public record at all. In those cases, only the people directly named in the will are likely to have seen it.

How to get a copy of a will online — step by step

The official route is the government's Probate Search service, which covers all grants of probate in England and Wales since 1858. Here is how it works:

1. Go to probatesearch.service.gov.uk
2. Enter the deceased's full name and the year of death (an approximate year is enough)
3. If probate has been granted, the result will show the date of the grant and the names of the executors
4. Add the document to your basket and pay £1.50 per copy
5. The will and grant arrive by email, usually within 2–5 working days

You do not need to register an account or provide proof of identity. Wills are public records — anyone can request a copy for any legitimate reason.

How much does a copy of a will cost?

Online downloads cost £1.50 per document. You can download the will and the grant of probate separately — each is £1.50. Postal copies cost more and take considerably longer. For most purposes, the online route is the obvious choice.

If you want a standing search — a notification when probate is eventually granted on a specific estate — that costs £3 and remains active for six months. Useful if a death is recent and probate has not yet been applied for.

What if probate has not been granted yet?

If the search returns no results, either probate has not been granted or the deceased did not leave a will that went through probate. A few possibilities:

• The death was recent — probate often takes six months to a year to complete
• The estate was small enough to avoid probate altogether
• Assets passed outside the estate (joint ownership, life insurance, pension)
• The executor has not yet started the probate process

In the first scenario, set a standing search. It costs £3 and automatically notifies you when probate is granted, for up to six months.

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Who keeps the original will?

Once probate is granted, the original will is held permanently by the Probate Registry in England and Wales. Executors receive a sealed copy — the original stays with the court. This is why the Probate Search service works: all probated wills since 1858 sit in the same central store.

Before 1858, wills were proved in ecclesiastical courts, and the records are held by the National Archives at Kew. The National Archives online catalogue (Discovery) allows you to search for pre-1858 wills and order copies from their document ordering service.

What if the person died without a will?

If someone dies without a valid will — known as dying intestate — there is no will to find. The estate is distributed according to the Rules of Intestacy, which sets out a strict priority order of relatives. If no qualifying relatives exist, the estate passes to the Crown as bona vacantia.

Distant relatives — including cousins several times removed — can still make an inheritance claim on an intestate estate if they can prove their relationship. The government publishes a list of these unclaimed estates, and you can search it free using FindMyLegacy.

Use the free intestacy entitlement checker →

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Frequently asked questions

Can anyone get a copy of a will in the UK?

Yes. Once probate has been granted, the will is a public document and anyone can request a copy from the Probate Registry. No proof of relationship is required.

How long does it take to receive a copy of a will?

Online downloads via probatesearch.service.gov.uk typically arrive by email within 2–5 working days. Postal applications take considerably longer — allow up to four weeks.

Can I find out if someone made a will before they died?

Not easily, if at all. The National Will Register (Certainty) holds some registered wills, but registration is voluntary — most UK wills are not registered there. Before death, only the person who made the will and their solicitor typically know of its existence. After death, the probate search is the definitive public record.

What if the will is more than 25 years old?

Older wills are held off-site by the Probate Registry and may take longer to retrieve — but they are still obtainable. Specify the approximate year of the grant when ordering; this speeds up location of the file.

Are Scottish wills available through the same service?

No. Scottish wills are handled separately through the National Records of Scotland. Search via ScotlandsPeople (scotlandspeople.gov.uk) for wills confirmed in Scottish courts from 1513 onwards.