Many people do the right thing by making a Will—then assume everything is “sorted.” But there’s one practical step that’s often overlooked: making sure your Will can actually be found when it’s needed. That’s why The National Will Register has launched Free Will Registration Month, running from May 1 to May 31, 2026. During this period, Wills can be registered free of charge, saving the usual £30 standard registration fee (using the code FREEWILLREG26). At McHale & Co Solicitors, we welcome initiatives like this because they can help families avoid delays, uncertainty, and unnecessary stress at an already difficult time.

Why registering a Will matters

A Will is only helpful if the right people can locate it after someone dies. When a Will can’t be found quickly, it can lead to:

• delays in dealing with the estate (including probate)
• additional legal costs and administrative work
• confusion or disputes among family members
• the risk that an earlier Will is relied on—or that the estate is treated as if there is no Will at all

Free Will Registration Month is aimed at closing that gap between “I’ve made a Will” and “My loved ones can actually access it when they need to.”

How the National Will Register works (and what it does not do)

One common concern is privacy. The National Will Register does not see or store your actual Will.

Instead, it securely records key details about where the original Will is held—for example, the solicitor or secure location holding the document. This helps ensure the Will can be traced later without making the contents publicly available.

When someone dies, the system only allows legitimate searches, typically requiring a copy of the death certificate, and searches are carried out by an executor or a named beneficiary.

A reminder: many people still don’t have a Will (or don’t know where it is)

According to research referenced in the National Will Register’s 2025 National Wills Report:

• only 37% of UK adults have made a Will
• more than half of respondents said they don’t know where their parents’ Wills are stored
• while 79% now say they’re comfortable talking about death, many families still haven’t taken the practical steps that make estate administration smoother

This is exactly why Will storage and registration matter—your wishes shouldn’t be left to chance.

Free Will Registration Month runs from May 1 to May 31, 2026. To register a Will for free during the campaign, use code: FREEWILLREG26.

Need a Will (or need to update one)? Get in touch

This campaign is also a timely reminder: if you don’t have a Will in place, or you’re unsure whether your will still reflects your current wishes (family changes, marriage, divorce, a new home, new grandchildren, etc.), we can help you put the right documents in place and make sure they’re properly stored.

Contact our Wills & Probate team on 0161 928 3848 or email mch@mchaleandco.co.uk to discuss making a Will or updating an existing one.