Missing wills

Questions about missing wills

What is a missing-will notice?

When a person has died and their lawyer or family cannot find their will, the New Zealand Law Society publishes a notice asking any lawyer or firm holding that will to come forward. Afterword republishes these notices so families and the public can help locate a will.

Why would a will be missing?

Wills are often held by the lawyer or firm that drafted them, and over decades firms merge, close, or move. A will can also be stored at home, in a safe-deposit box, or with a trustee company and simply not be found after a death. A public notice is the standard way to track it down.

Someone is searching for their own will — why?

Occasionally a living person needs to recover a will they signed years ago — for example after changing lawyers — and asks for the firm holding it to make contact. These notices are marked “seeking own will”.

I think I hold this will — what should I do?

Open the person's notice and use the enquiry form. Your message goes to the representative handling the estate; we never publish their email or phone number.

What happens if no will is ever found?

If a valid will cannot be located, the estate is usually distributed under New Zealand's intestacy rules in the Administration Act 1969. See our guide on what happens if you die without a will.

Read next: What happens if you die without a will in New Zealand.