When someone dies, finding out whether they made a will is one of the first practical steps an executor or family member needs to take. A will determines who inherits the estate — and whether probate is needed. If no will is found, the estate passes under the rules of intestacy, which may mean relatives are entitled to claim even if they did not know about the estate.
Two public sources record wills and estate activity after death: the Probate Registry public index and The Gazette Deceased Estates notices. Both are free to search directly, but navigating them and interpreting the results takes time. We do both for you and return a clear written report.
Probate Registry public index
Once probate is granted, the will becomes a public document. The Probate Registry holds an index of every will proved in England and Wales since 1858. If a will exists and was proved after death, it will appear here — and we can obtain a copy. The search is free but navigating the service and interpreting the results takes time.
The Gazette — Deceased Estates notices
Executors are required to advertise in The Gazette before distributing an estate. These notices sometimes reference the existence or absence of a will and identify the solicitor handling the estate — a useful secondary lead for tracing where a will may be held.
If our search finds no will, the deceased died intestate — without a valid will. Under UK intestacy rules, the estate passes to the next of kin in a fixed legal order. If no relatives come forward, the estate eventually passes to the Crown and appears on the Bona Vacantia list — a public register of unclaimed estates that FindMyLegacy is built around.
If you believe you may be a relative of someone on the Bona Vacantia list, a will search is often the first step in confirming that the estate is genuinely unclaimed.
Concierge service
We search both sources on your behalf and send you a written report within 5 working days. The report states clearly whether a will was found, where it is held, and what the next steps are. If no will is found, we confirm which sources were searched. One fixed fee — no hidden costs, no commission.
Both sources covered by the concierge can also be searched directly and for free. If you also want to search the National Will Register (Certainty), that costs £93 and can be done separately at nationalwillregister.co.uk.
This service covers England and Wales. For Scotland, contact the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service ↗. FindMyLegacy is not affiliated with Certainty, the Probate Registry, or The Gazette.