Petition · Ministry of Justice

Create a national register of wills & require all wills to be registered

Closed 52 signatures

What the petition asks

We call on the Government to create a government-backed national register of wills and make will registration mandatory in the UK. We are concerned that without this, a valid will may not be followed. We register births, deaths and property — we believe wills should be no different.
Each year, many families apply for probate without knowing whether a valid will exists. The risk of lost, hidden or disputed wills can cause delays, distress, and legal battles. As will writers & estate planners, we’ve seen this harm first-hand. We believe a national register could offer clarity, reduce fraud, and protect legacies.

Timeline

2 Jun 2025 Petition opened for signatures
2 Dec 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 52
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 2 Jun 2025
Closed 2 Dec 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 19 Aug 2026.