The will that changed everything: How one search redirected an entire estate to charity

As a precautionary measure, the treasury solicitor, Farrer & Co, conducted a will search with The National Will Register. This routine check was to ensure no unknown will existed before proceeding with the rules of intestacy. What they uncovered would change the outcome of the entire estate.

A will discovered, an estate transformed

The search results confirmed the existence of a will written in 2017, held securely by AST Hampsons Solicitors. This discovery immediately halted the intestacy process. The case was no longer a matter for the Bona Vacantia division; instead, it became about fulfilling the deceased’s documented last wishes.

The located will revealed a clear and final intention: the entire estate was to be left to a single beneficiary, the charity Save the Children.

This finding had a profound impact. Not only did it prevent the estate from being passed to the Crown, but it also ensured a significant charitable legacy was honoured. For AST Hampsons, it meant they could undertake the probate work, an opportunity that would have otherwise been lost. More importantly, it highlighted the critical role a will search plays in validating an individual’s final wishes.

The value of certainty in probate

Louise Holmes, Partner and Head of Wills and Probate at AST Hampsons, and her team have been members of The National Will Register for eight years. This case reinforced their belief in the importance of both registering wills and conducting searches as standard practice.

“People forget where their loved one’s wills are, or this conversation never happens” Louise explains. “So, The National Will Register acts as a security measure to ensure it is found when it is needed most.” Louise Holmes - Partner and Head of Wills and Probate at AST Hampsons.