Do not allow original wills to be destroyed after 25 years.
Please #SaveOurWills! The MoJ proposes to digitise and then allow the destruction of original wills after 25 years. We call for the original wills to be preserved in perpetuity in line with current legislation. Do not agree to legislative changes that would allow the destruction of these documents.
1. We think costs of digital preservation and storage could be astronomical.
2. The loss of digital files may be more likely than the loss of physical documents, for example via file corruption and cyber attacks.
3. Flaws and errors made during the digitisation process may happen.
4. The proposed changes to legislation may set a detrimental precedent for the destruction of other archive collections.
5. Physical documents provide additional information, such as the materiality of the documents.
The Petition was started by Richard Holt and is supported by IHGS
The Ministry of Justice is holding a consultation on the proposal. Join in the consultation and help the campaign to preserve these valuable documents. Responses are needed by the 23rd February 2023. For more information on the MoJ consultation paper Storage and retention of original will documents
Richard has written an excellent blog that explains the importance of the original wills Justice for Wills and Probate Documents:
https://holtsfamilyhistoryresearch.co.uk/2024/01/03/justice-for-wills-and-probate-documents/
