I took the staples out of a will to scan and then restapled

[wilko73]

I have made a stupid error,I had 2 pieces of paperwork 1 of them my diseased mother's will and 1 of them a renunciation codicil given to me by the solicitor after I asked them to step down as executor.I was scanning documents to send to utility companies after mum's death and was took the staples out to scan more easily in fact it was after I misconstrued an instruction to make sure all corners could be seen clearly when copying. I remember the council did this when they scanned my LPA years ago so didn't think much of it.
Anyway I have read this is a problematic thing to do as the Probate office check for new staple holes and anything not looking correct. A solicitor is handling mum's probate on a form filling and applying for grant only basis. I've handed the probate questionnaire in with the figures that they wanted and I wonder if they will just use the copy of mum's will that they hold to send to probate when they apply and I wonder if they have a copy of the Codicil that they will send or will I end up paying them to generate a new copy of each.I hope I won't get a huge bill for this.any thoughts on the matter much appreciated.


I hope if they can offer new copies it doesn't involve a lot of work and so great expense for me

[atticus]

You may be required to provide an affidavit explaining what you did.

[wilko73]

oh thank you,it sounds like a costly mistake

[PallasAthena]

... I wonder if they will just use the copy of mum's will that they hold to send to probate when they apply and I wonder if they have a copy of the Codicil that they will send ...

They have to send the original will and and codicil with the probate application so best to tell your solicitor what you did in case they didn't notice.

It's likely to be cheaper for you to deal with this upfront than if you wait until probate office raise a query about it.

[wilko73]

They have to send the original will and and codicil with the probate application so best to tell your solicitor what you did in case they didn't notice.

It's likely to be cheaper for you to deal with this upfront than if you wait until probate office raise a query about it.

Hi thanks,I think they have the original will so hopefully it's iust the codicil that they will have to sort out thank you,I will contact them today

edit...I have just noticed that the codicil says COPY in large letters across the top! So the solicitor must have the original of that too,that's fortunate