Where Is the Best Place to Store Your Original Estate Planning Documents?
Creating an estate plan is a major step—but where you store your original documents is just as important as what those documents say. If your family can’t find your will, trust, or powers of attorney when they’re needed, even the best estate plan can fall apart. So where should you keep your original estate planning documents? Let’s break it down.
Why Document Storage Matters
Original estate planning documents—especially wills—often must be produced in their original, signed form. If originals are lost, damaged, or inaccessible, courts may:
Question the document’s validity
Treat it as revoked
Require costly legal proceedings
Proper storage protects your wishes and saves your loved ones time, stress, and expense.
The Best Place: A Fireproof, Waterproof Home Safe
For most people, the best place to store original estate planning documents is a fireproof, waterproof home safe that is:
Secure
Easily accessible to trusted individuals
Located in your home
This option balances security and accessibility, ensuring documents are protected but not locked away beyond reach.
Tip:
Make sure your executor or trusted family member knows the safe exists and how to access it.
Should You Use a Safe Deposit Box?
A safe deposit box can be appropriate—but it has limitations.
Pros:
High level of security
Protection from theft and fire
Cons:
Boxes are often sealed upon death
Executors may need a court order to access them
Access may be limited to banking hours
Best practice: Avoid storing your only original will or healthcare documents in a safe deposit box unless your executor is a co-signer.
Attorney Storage: Is It a Good Idea?
Some law firms offer to store original documents.
This can work if:
The firm has long-term stability
You maintain regular contact
Your family knows exactly where the documents are
However, documents stored with attorneys can become difficult to retrieve if:
The firm closes or merges
The attorney retires
Records are transferred without notice
What About Digital Storage?
Digital copies are extremely useful—but they do not replace originals.
You should:
Scan all documents
Store encrypted copies securely
Share access with trusted individuals
Digital copies help guide loved ones but usually cannot be used in court as substitutes for originals.
Documents You Should Store Together
Keep these documents in one secure location:
Will
Trust (if applicable)
Powers of attorney
Healthcare directives
Deeds and property records
Avoid scattering documents across multiple locations.
Tell the Right People
Even perfectly stored documents are useless if no one knows where they are.
Make sure your:
Executor
Trustee
Agent under power of attorney
knows where documents are stored and how to access them.
Review Storage After Life Changes
Revisit your storage plan after:
Moving homes
Changing executors
Updating documents
Purchasing a new safe
An estate plan isn’t “done” unless it’s accessible.
Final Thoughts
The best estate plan is one that can be found when it matters most.
Secure storage, clear communication, and periodic review ensure your wishes are honored—and your family isn’t left scrambling during a difficult time.
If you’re unsure whether your documents are stored safely, now is the perfect time to review your plan.