Depositing documents for safe keeping

It is important that you read this section through carefully. The procedures must be correctly followed and all details requested must be provided otherwise it may not be possible to accept your will for safe keeping.

Your will can be deposited either by you or by someone else on your behalf.

The fee for depositing a will or codicil at First Avenue House is £15.00. If you deposit your will and codicil at the same time together in the same envelope the fee is still £15.00, cheque payable to HMCS.

Please read the following section as it gives full details of how to lodge your will for safe keeping.

Although the term 'will' is used throughout the following sections, the same procedure applies if you are depositing a will and/or a codicil.

• Take your will to the Probate Registry of your choice (check opening times beforehand).
• They will hand you an envelope to complete.
• You must complete all the details requested on the envelope i.e. The document(s) being deposited
• The date of your will
• Your full name
• Your full address
• The full names and addresses of your executors
• Your exact date of birth

In the presence of an officer of the Probate Registry seal your will inside the envelope and sign the envelope at the appropriate place The Probate Officer will then sign the envelope

You will then be asked to pay the £15.00 fee for depositing your will
The Probate Officer will take the will from you. It will thereafter be kept at the Principal Registry of the Family Division for safe keeping
You will either be issued with a certificate of deposit straight away or your certificate of deposit will be sent to you within two weeks

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• Obtain the safe custody will envelope pack from either a District Probate Registry, Probate Sub-Registry or the Record Keeper's Dept
  (Tel: 020 7947 6948)
• You must complete all the details requested on the envelope i.e. The document(s) being deposited
• The date of your will
• Your full name
• Your full address
• The full names and addresses of your executors
• Your exact date of birth
• Seal your will inside the envelope and in the presence of a witness sign the envelope at the appropriate place. Your witness must also sign the envelope and print his/her name and address
• Send your will (by registered or recorded post) with a signed letter requesting that your will be lodged at First Avenue House* and enclose the £15.00 fee to:
  Record Keeper's Dept
  PRFD
  First Avenue House
  42 - 49 High Holborn
  London WC1V 6NP

(Wills sent in by post can only be accepted at the above address)

• If all the details are correct you will be sent acertificate of deposit within two weeks
• If you do not provide all the details requested your will cannot be lodged. We will need to contact you to request those details.
• Failure to provide those details may mean that your will is returned to you
• A pre-printed form requesting that the will be deposited at First Avenue House is enclosed with all safe custody packs sent from the Record Keeper's Department. This form if signed and returned is acceptable in place of a letter 
   

• Obtain the safe custody will envelope pack from either a District Probate Registry, Probate Sub-Registry or the Record Keeper's Dept
  (Tel: 020 7947 6948)
• You must complete all the details requested on the envelope i.e. The document(s) being deposited
• The date of your will
• Your full name
• Your full address
• The full names and addresses of your executors
• Your exact date of birth
• Seal your will inside the envelope and in the presence of a witness sign the envelope at the appropriate place. Your witness must also sign the envelope, and print his/her name and address.
  Your agent must take your will to the Probate Registry of your choice (check opening times beforehand), with a letter of authority signed by you permitting your agent to deposit your will at First Avenue House (e.g. I John James Smith authorise Allen John Ford to deposit this my will at First Avenue House for safe keeping on my behalf) and pay the £15.00 deposit fee. See the list of all the Probate Registries.
• If all the details are provided as requested you will receive a certificate of deposit through the post within two weeks. Your agent will also receive a photocopy of that certificate. Your will shall be kept at the Principal Registry of the Family Division for safe keeping

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• Obtain the safe custody will envelope pack from either a District Probate Registry, Probate Sub-Registry or the Record Keeper's Dept
  (Tel: 020 7947 6948)
  (Textphone 18001 020 7947 7389)
• You must complete all the details requested on the envelope i.e. The document(s) being deposited
• The date of your will
• Your full name
• Your full address
• The full names and addresses of your executors
• Your exact date of birth
• Seal your will inside the envelope and in the presence of a witness sign the envelope at the appropriate place. Your witness must also sign the envelope, and print his/her name and address
  Your agent must send your will (by registered or recorded post) with a letter of authority signed by you permitting your agent to deposit your will at First Avenue House (e.g. I John James Smith authorise Allen John Ford to deposit this my will at First Avenue House for safe keeping on my behalf) and enclose the £15.00 fee to: Record Keeper's Dept
  PRFD
  First Avenue House
  42 - 49 High Holborn
  London WC1V 6NP

(Wills sent in by post can only be accepted at the above address)

If all the details are correct you will be sent a certificate of deposit within two weeks. Your agent will also receive a photocopy of that certificate. If you do not provide all the details requested your will cannot be lodged. We will need to contact you to request those details. Failure to provide those details may mean that your will is returned to you Principal Registry of the Family Division

Record Keeper's Dept
Principal Registry of the Family Division
First Avenue House
42 - 49 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NP
Tel: 020 7947 6948
Minicom 18001 020 7947 7389

Yes. Please bear in mind that all wills are deposited with the High Court pursuant to Section 126 of the Supreme Court Act 1981, and once deposited fall under the control and direction of the High Court. If you do choose to lodge your will with the High Court, it will become subject to the rules set by the President of the Family Division and agreed with the Lord Chancellor.

If you wish to find out more about the rules governing the safe custody of wills in the High Court, details can be found in Tristram and Cootes 'Probate Practice' 29th Edition - Section 'Wills of Living Persons' which should be available in your local reference library.

Your will would be deposited with the High Court and stored at:

Records Keepers Department
Principal Registry of the Family Division
First Avenue House
42-49, High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NP

Tel: 020 7947 6948
Minicom 18001 020 7947 7389

You can deposit either:

• A will
• A codicil ( a testamentary document modifying a will)
• Or both together