Making a will is an essential step, but the practical job is not finished when the document is signed. Your executor may need the original, and a scan tucked into a computer folder may not be enough. If no one knows where the signed document is held, the search can add delay and uncertainty at an already difficult time.
The best storage choice keeps the original protected from loss, damage and unauthorised changes while making its location discoverable to the right people. Because succession law and probate procedures vary across Australia, use this guide as practical preparation and obtain legal advice for your circumstances.
Why the original matters
Courts and probate registries generally expect the original signed will. If only a copy can be found, additional evidence or legal steps may be required. That does not necessarily make the estate impossible to administer, but it can make the process more complicated.
Do not write on, unstaple, re-staple or attach notes to the original after signing without advice. Physical changes can raise questions. Keep working notes and explanatory information separately.
Common storage options
There is no single answer for every person. Consider security, fire and water protection, continuity and whether your executor will know how to retrieve the document.
Your solicitor: often practical when the solicitor who prepared the will offers secure custody and maintains clear records. Ask about retrieval, fees and what happens if the practice closes or merges. Share your Lyff Vault with with as a custodian.
A public trustee or official will-storage service: availability and terms differ by state or territory. Some jurisdictions offer secure custody or a registry that records the document’s location. Review the trustee very carefully and look at all the terms and conditions. Some customers have expressed disappointment in how public trustees manage affairs in Australia.
A secure home location: convenient, but vulnerable to fire, flood, accidental disposal or being overlooked. Avoid a hiding place known only to you.
A bank safe-custody service or safe deposit arrangement: potentially secure, but confirm who can gain access after death and what evidence will be required.
A private safe: useful only if the executor knows it exists and can lawfully obtain the key or code when needed.
Or ofcourse the most secure, reliable and easy to share option which is to open a Lyff Vault.
Tell the right people the location
At minimum, your chosen executor should know that a current will exists and where the signed original is stored. They do not necessarily need a copy of the full document during your lifetime. You may also tell an alternate executor and a trusted family member or adviser.
Provide the custodian’s name, contact details, reference number if relevant and the date of the will. If the location changes, update the record and tell the same people. Avoid leaving several apparently signed versions in different places without legal advice about which one is current.
Keep related documents organised
Your executor may also need a clear picture of assets, liabilities, insurance, superannuation, digital services and professional contacts. These records do not all belong inside the will. Keep a separate estate information list and update it regularly.
Superannuation death-benefit nominations, powers of attorney and advance care planning documents operate differently from a will. A power of attorney generally ceases on death, while a will deals with the estate after death. Ask qualified advisers how the documents work together in your jurisdiction.
Review after major changes
Review your will after marriage, separation, divorce, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets, the death or incapacity of an executor or beneficiary, or a move between jurisdictions. Do not make handwritten amendments and assume they will work. Ask a solicitor whether a new will or properly executed codicil is appropriate.
A regular review also confirms that your executor remains willing and that the storage provider’s details are current. The document should reflect your intentions, and the retrieval plan should reflect real life.
Avoid common storage mistakes
Do not store the only original in a place no one can access, rely solely on a digital scan, or post a copy to several people and forget which is current. Do not put the original somewhere vulnerable merely because it feels private. Privacy and discoverability can coexist when the document is secure and the location is recorded.
If you cannot find an existing original, do not simply recreate or sign a copy without advice. Contact the solicitor or organisation involved and obtain legal guidance about the correct next step.
How Lyff can help
Lyff can help you record that your will exists, the date of the current version, where the signed original is safely held and whom to contact. You can also store a reference copy and related instructions in the same organised record. A digital copy can be useful, but Lyff does not turn a scan into the legal original and is not a substitute for legal advice.
You can keep the information Private or, on an eligible plan, direct selected location details and instructions to a verified Guardian or Custodian under the access settings you choose. Start by recording where the signed original is held and confirming that your executor knows how to begin.
Sources and review references
Service Victoria, “Make a will” and Victorian Will and Powers of Attorney Registry — service.vic.gov.au
State Trustees Victoria, will storage and registry information — statetrustees.com.au
The Law Handbook, “Storage of a will” — lawhandbook.sa.gov.au
Relevant state or territory probate registry and legal adviser
General information only. This article does not replace legal, financial, medical, cyber-security or other professional advice. Requirements and services can vary by Australian state, territory and provider.
