Research has shown well over half (57%*) of the population don’t have any kind of will, and many others forget to update them when circumstances change.

A further problem can arise when someone dies, but no one knows where the will is held. A consumer survey commissioned by Certainty showed that 67% of people do not know where their parents’ wills are located. As a solution to this problem, hlw was one of the first firms in Sheffield to become a member of Certainty, the national wills register endorsed by the Law Society.

In less than a minute, by using a quick online search facility, Certainty.co.uk can provide details of the law firm that holds the most up-to-date will for anyone registered.

Emilda Eaton, head of the private client team at hlw, explains: “Although we keep a database of all wills which we have prepared, changing circumstances, moving to another area or simply the passage of time can sometimes make it difficult for beneficiaries to locate a will.

“If we receive instructions regarding an estate, where those instructing us are not aware of the whereabouts of the will, we can now conduct a simple search on the Certainty database. This reduces both delays and costs."

Anyone interested in finding out more about the service should contact Emilda Eaton on 0114 276 5555 or via emildae@hlwlaw.co.uk.