Document Storage

After completion of your Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and other critical documents, there is a strong requirement to keep them safe until the time that they are inevitably needed.

It is our professional opinion that the benefits of keeping your Estate Planning documentation safe, secure, and out of the way largely outweigh the small cost.

There are many unfortunate reasons as to why people may die intestate (without a Will). A Will or LPA is often produced, signed, and then forgotten about until it is urgently needed. Even if you spend the time creating and deciding on your final wishes, if your Will is considered lost, damaged or destroyed your wishes may not be taken into account and you will have died intestate. Part of Oak Shields offering to all clients is the opportunity to have their Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney stored in fire and flood proof safes which are also widely considered to be theft-proof.

Purchasing secure document storage ultimately means:

• Your final wishes and confidential documentation won't be damaged, lost, or stolen.
• Only your chosen friend, family, or loved one will be authorised to withdraw the documentation from our secure storage site after your passing or incapacitation.
• If you feel that your wishes may leave a beneficiary dissatisfied, they will never have the opportunity to tamper or destroy your documents as they may have if you decide to store your will at your home. 

The unfortunate reality
If the original copy of Estate Planning documentation cannot be located or retrieved after your passing, the law presumes that you must have purposely disposed of it following a change of heart and did not wish for the instruction it held to be acted on. This ultimately means that if your most up to date Will cannot be found after your death, you will effectively die intestate. Your estate will be treated as if you have no estate planning and your instructions will not be carried out as you wished.

*Secure Document Storage starts from £36 plus Value Added Tax per annum.

Only your chosen executors are able to access your documentation when you pass or become incapacitated.

Both you and your loved ones know where your documents are located, preventing intestacy.

Your wishes and documentation are protected from falling into the wrong hands.

Locked away in a flood proof, fire proof, and anti-theft cabinet.

Fully insured by The SWW partnered Insurance firm.

Update your wishes with ease because your documents are being held with us.