Releasing documents

We have a duty of confidentiality to our Clients and therefore have certain requirements in order to release documents which we hold in storage.

Your Will/LPA/EPA/Deeds

If you have original documents stored with ourselves and would like the documents releasing to yourself we will require the following:

1. A signed letter of authority from yourself which confirms:
   
   1. Your full name
   2. Your current address
   3. Your address which is stated in the documents
   4. Which documents you would like to be released
2. Two forms of ID:
   
   1. Either a current driving licence, passport or birth certificate
   2. Proof of address dated within the last three months (for example a utility bill, bank statement, doctors letter etc.)

We will then review the documentation and if approved will post your documents via recorded delivery to your current address.

Confirming if we hold a deceased person’s Will/LPA/EPA/Deeds

We will not disclose if we hold documents to a third party until we have received:

1. The original death certificate of the deceased
2. The third party’s ID:
   
   1. Either a current driving licence, passport or birth certificate
   2. Proof of address dated within the last three months (for example a utility bill, bank statement, doctors letter etc.)

Once we have received the above, we will then confirm if we hold any original documents.

Releasing the will of a deceased person

We require the following from all named executors in the will in order to release the will:

1. A signed letter of authority from each executor which confirms:
   
   1. Your full name
   2. Your current address 
   3. The person and address to release the documents to
2. Two forms of ID:
   
   1. Either a current driving licence, passport or birth certificate
   2. Proof of address dated within the last three months (for example a utility bill, bank statement, doctors letter etc.)
3. If any of the appointed executors have passed away we would require a copy of their death certificate.

We will then review the documentation and if approved will post your documents via recorded delivery to your current address.

Confirming if we hold a person’s Will/LPA/EPA/Deeds if you are appointed as an attorney

If our client has capacity we would require the following:

1. A signed letter of authority from our client which confirms:
   
   1. Their full name
   2. Their current address
   3. The address which is stated in the documents
   4. Which documents they would like to be released
2. Two forms of ID:
   
   1. Either a current driving licence, passport or birth certificate
   2. Proof of address dated within the last three months (for example a utility bill, bank statement, doctors letter etc.)

We will then review the documentation and if approved will post confirmation of documents stored and/or any documents requested to our Client via recorded delivery to their current address.

If our client has lost capacity

If our client has lost capacity we will not disclose if we hold documents to a third party until we have received:

1. Two forms of ID from yourself:
   
   1. Either a current driving licence, passport or birth certificate
   2. Proof of address dated within the last three months (for example a utility bill, bank statement, doctors letter etc.)
2. A copy of the registered property & financial LPA or EPA which appoints you as an attorney.
3. If you are appointed as an attorney under an EPA we would also require a letter from our Client’s GP which confirmed that the client has lost capacity.

Once we have received and approved the above, we will then confirm if we hold any original documents.

We will only provide a copy of our client’s will to a property and financial affairs attorney, rather than their original will unless directed otherwise by our Client’s LPA.

If the EPA or LPA appoints you to act jointly (and not jointly and severally) with another person(s) then we will also require the above and a letter of authority and ID from the other attorneys in order to release any documentation.

Please contact us on 0113 218 5497 or email at wills@winstonsolicitors.co.uk.