Your Will remains a private document until the Grant of Probate is obtained. Until that point it is only the executors who are entitled to see it.
However, once the Grant of Probate is issued then it becomes a public document, and anyone can see it if they apply to The Probate Registry and pay the appropriate fee.
The Grant of Probate is an important document and enables you to access and collect in the assets of the deceased such as their Bank or Building society accounts, Shares, ISA and it is also needed if you wish to sell or transfer the deceased`s property and home.
In most cases the Grant of Probate is needed, and it is only for very small estates below a certain figure and without any property that a grant may not be required.
It must be noted that a beneficiary does not have an automatic right to see the Will and if the executor refuses the request, then the beneficiary may need to make an application to court.
So, we can see how important obtaining the Grant of Probate is in relation to dealing with the deceased`s estate. It is essentially the key that unlocks the assets and funds of the deceased.
Probate can be a daunting process particularly when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. We are here to help ease you through this process and provide our professional advice every step of the way.