Where Should You Keep Your Original Will?
- 19 hours ago
- 9 min read
Quick Answer
In Pennsylvania, the best places to store your original will are: (1) with your estate planning attorney, or (2) in a quality fireproof safe at home — provided your executor knows exactly where it is and how to access it. Do not rely solely on a bank safe deposit box, as Pennsylvania law can make it difficult for your executor to access the box after your death without already having the will in hand.
So you've done the responsible thing and created a will. Congratulations! You are officially ahead of a surprising number of Pennsylvania adults who have been putting it off because, well, thinking about death is not exactly anyone’s idea of fun.
But here's the thing: now that you have a will, what do you do with it? It’s not worth a thing if the people who need it can’t find it when it matters most. A lost original will can even be presumed revoked under Pennsylvania law — meaning all that careful planning could go right out the window.
Before we dive in, a quick word for those who don't yet have a will: Fiffik Law Group makes it easy to protect your family with our secure online will tool. It's simple, it's straightforward, and you can get started from the comfort of your couch — no office visit required.
Get started today: Fiffik Law Group Life & Legacy Questionnaire Protect your family in minutes.
For everyone who already has a will: let's talk about where to keep it. Pennsylvania residents have several options, and each comes with its own advantages and pitfalls. We'll walk through all of them — including one option that sounds logical but doesn't actually work the way most people assume.
I’ll start with a quick story from early in my legal career. One of my first estate planning clients was a little old lady from Masontown PA. During one of our meetings – at her home – we talked about storing her will. She said “honey I got that covered. I keep it in a Ziploc bag in my freezer.” I laughed out loud and asked her why she chose such an unconventional storage method. Her response: “If the house burns, down the freezer never burns!” I give her credit for creativity but I’m not sure that I’d endorse the store-it-in-the-freezer method. What follows are a few of the more “conventional” ideas.
Option 1: Fireproof Safe or Lockbox at Home
A quality fireproof and waterproof home safe is one of the most reliable places to store your original will in Pennsylvania — as long as your executor knows the location and how to access it. |
Keeping your original will in a fireproof safe or lockbox at home is one of the most common choices for Pennsylvania residents, and for good reason. You're in control, the document is immediately accessible, and your executor doesn't need to involve any third party to retrieve it.
Pros
Immediately accessible to you and your executor at any time — no banker’s hours required.
No third party needed; full control stays with you.
Keeps private estate planning documents secure and under your control.
Cons
A home safe is only as good as its fire and water resistance rating. Not all safes are created equal — make sure yours is genuinely fireproof and waterproof, not just a sturdy-looking metal box.
Your executor and trusted family members must know the safe’s location and how to access it. A combination only you know is a serious problem.
Risk of theft or tampering if someone with access to your home knows where the safe is.
Option 2: Filing Cabinet at Home
A filing cabinet at home is accessible but offers no protection against fire, flood, or theft. It is generally not recommended as your sole storage location for an original Pennsylvania will. |
A standard filing cabinet is where many Pennsylvania homeowners end up storing important documents simply because that’s where everything else lives — tax returns, insurance policies, utility bills from 2009. It’s convenient and accessible, but it carries real risks worth understanding before you tuck your will in next to the takeout menus.
Pros
Easy to access for you and your executor at any time.
No cost and no third-party involvement.
Works well if your filing system is organized and your executor knows exactly where to look.
Cons
Filing cabinets offer zero protection against fire, flood, or other disasters. One house fire and your will is gone.
Documents stored in a cabinet are vulnerable to moisture, pests, and general wear over time.
Little physical security — anyone with access to your home can locate and remove the will.
In Pennsylvania, if your original will is destroyed or lost, it may be presumed revoked — a devastating outcome that careful storage can prevent.
Option 3: Safe Deposit Box at a Pennsylvania Bank
A safe deposit box probably should not be your sole storage location. In Pennsylvania, a bank should allow access to a safe deposit box for the limited purpose of searching for a will. But, I’ve run across more than a few bank personnel who aren’t familiar with the law. Through ignorance, they may restrict access to a safe deposit box after the owner’s death, creating a catch-22: your executor needs the will to start probate, but needs probate letters to open the box. Keep this in mind before relying on a safe deposit box for your original will. |
A bank safe deposit box feels like the gold standard of document security — it’s fireproof, flood-resistant, and no one is getting in without a key and ID. The box may be entered by family members without probate for the limited purpose of searching for a will and cemetery deed. Pennsylvania law allows access to the safe deposit box after the death of the owner without probate for these two reasons. The problem? The local bank workers may not be familiar with these rules or there’s a delay while they check with the legal department for an answer.
Pros
Extremely secure — protected from fire, flood, theft, and physical damage.
Low annual cost; widely available at Pennsylvania banks.
A good secondary storage location for a copy of the will or other estate documents.
Cons
In Pennsylvania, a bank may seal or restrict access to a safe deposit box upon learning of the account holder’s death. Your executor may be unable to access the box have to deal with hassles from the bank to access the box.
Access is limited to bank hours, which is inconvenient when urgency matters.
Losing the key or forgetting which bank holds the box turns document retrieval into an unpleasant project for grieving family members.
Co-owners on the safe deposit box can access it at any time, which may or may not align with your intentions.
Option 4: With Your Pennsylvania Estate Planning Attorney
Storing your original will with your Pennsylvania estate planning attorney is one of the most secure and practical options available. At Fiffik Law Group in Pittsburgh, PA, we are happy to hold original wills for our clients. |
Storing your original will with your Pennsylvania estate planning attorney is one of the most reliable options available. Your attorney maintains secure document storage, keeps an organized record of what they hold, and can promptly provide the will to your executor when the time comes. At Fiffik Law Group, we are proud to offer this service to our clients throughout the Pittsburgh area and across Pennsylvania.
Pros
Safe, professionally maintained, and easy to locate — no scavenger hunt for your grieving family.
Your attorney can promptly deliver the will to your executor without delays or access complications.
Significantly reduces the risk of loss, damage, tampering, or accidental destruction.
Your attorney can advise the executor on next steps in the Pennsylvania probate process, making a difficult time a little easier to navigate.
Cons
If your attorney retires, closes their practice, or passes away, retrieving the will may take some additional coordination — though any reputable Pennsylvania law firm will have a plan in place for client document continuity.
Your family and executor must know who your attorney is and how to contact them. This sounds obvious, but it is overlooked more often than you’d think.
Some firms may charge a nominal annual storage fee.
Option 5: Filing with the Register of Wills in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the Register of Wills does NOT accept wills for safekeeping during your lifetime. The Register of Wills becomes involved only after you pass away, when your will is submitted for probate. |
Pennsylvania residents might assume that the Register of Wills — the county office that oversees estate matters — is a place where you can deposit your will for safekeeping while you are alive. This is a very reasonable assumption, and it is also incorrect.
The Register of Wills becomes involved only after you pass away. At that point, your executor submits the original will to begin the probate process — a legal proceeding that formally validates the will, identifies your assets, and authorizes your executor to carry out your instructions. In Allegheny County and throughout Pennsylvania, once the will is probated and filed, it becomes a permanent public court record.
Pros
Once probated after your death, the filed will becomes a permanent, publicly accessible court record.
The probate process through the Register of Wills provides a formal, court-supervised mechanism for carrying out your estate plan.
Cons
This is not a lifetime storage option. The Register of Wills in Pennsylvania does not accept or hold wills before the owner’s death.
Your family still needs to locate your original will before they can file it with the Register of Wills for probate.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens if my original will is lost in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, if an original will cannot be located after a testator’s death, there is a legal presumption that the will was revoked by the testator. This can be overcome with clear and convincing evidence, but it is an uphill and costly battle for your family. The best way to avoid this is to store your original will securely and make sure the right people know where it is.
2. Can a photocopy of my will be probated in Pennsylvania?
Generally, no. Pennsylvania probate courts require the original signed will. A photocopy on its own is typically not accepted for probate and does not carry the same legal standing as the original. Copies can be useful for reference and planning purposes, but they are not a substitute for the original document.
3. How many copies of my will should I have?
You should have one original signed and witnessed will. You may keep one or more clearly labeled photocopies for reference — but make absolutely sure they are marked “COPY — Not the Original” to avoid confusion. Only the original can be probated in Pennsylvania.
4. Should I tell anyone where my will is stored?
Yes — absolutely. Your executor must know where your original will is located and how to access it. Without that information, the best-drafted will in the world becomes a treasure hunt for your family during one of the most difficult times of their lives. Consider also informing a trusted family member as a backup.
5. How often should I update my will in Pennsylvania?
Estate planning attorneys generally recommend reviewing your will every three to five years, and any time a significant life event occurs — such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child or grandchild, the death of a named beneficiary or executor, or a significant change in assets. Pennsylvania law does not require periodic updates, but keeping your will current ensures it reflects your actual wishes.
6. Does Fiffik Law Group help with wills in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Fiffik Law Group is a Pennsylvania law firm serving clients in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and surrounding areas. We assist clients with wills, estate planning, trusts, powers of attorney, and estate administration. We also offer a convenient online Life & Legacy Questionnaire to help you get started from home.
Our Recommendation: What to Do With Your Original Will
There is no single perfect answer — the right storage choice depends on your specific situation. Here is what the estate planning attorneys at Fiffik Law Group generally recommend:
Store your original will with your Pennsylvania estate planning attorney or in a quality fireproof, waterproof home safe.
Make sure your executor knows exactly where the original is stored and how to access it — and put that information in writing.
Keep a clearly labeled copy for reference, but do not rely on a copy for probate purposes.
Avoid relying solely on a bank safe deposit box, due to Pennsylvania’s access complications following death.
Review and update your will every few years or after any major life change.
And if you don’t yet have a will — there has never been a better or easier time to create one. Fiffik Law Group serves clients throughout the Pittsburgh, PA area and across Pennsylvania with practical, approachable estate planning services.
Get started today: Fiffik Law Group Life & Legacy Questionnaire Protect your family in minutes.
Questions about your Pennsylvania estate plan, will storage, or the probate process? Contact Fiffik Law Group to schedule a consultation with one of our Pittsburgh estate planning attorneys.