Proposal to destroy original wills abandoned

Original paper wills and supporting documents will be preserved the government has confirmed. A recent consultation conducted by the Ministry of Justice on the digitalisation of wills had asked: ‘Do you agree that after a certain time original paper documents (from 1858 onwards) may be destroyed (other than for famous individuals)?’

The response document states: ‘There was strong opposition to any destruction of original wills or other documents. This was for a variety of reasons in terms of both a national historical resource and also for individual legal challenges. There was also a strong emotional response to the consultation typified in the comments received on the unique nature of wills as a record of a living person’s wishes for the distribution of their assets.’

However costs are a concern. The ministry says its current practice of digitising wills submitted with new probate...