Do I need to tell my Heirs/Legatees which notary drew up my will?

Għandi bżonn ngħid liz- Werrieta /Legatees tiegħi liema nutar fassal iż- testment tiegħi?

This is a question many clients understandably ask. There is often the impression that, should something happen, the heirs must return to the same notary who prepared the will in order for it to be opened. However, this is not the case.

Once a will is signed before a notary in Malta, it is duly registered either in the Public Registry or with the Courts of Malta, depending on its type (public or secret). This registration ensures that the will can be traced after death — regardless of whether the heirs know which notary drew it up.

If the heirs are unaware of the notary’s identity, they can go to any notary or lawyer, who may request a formal will search to identify whether a will exists and where it is held. The process is secure and standard practice.

Therefore, while you may choose to inform your heirs or leave written instructions for peace of mind, there is no legal obligation to do so, and your will remains accessible and legally valid either way.

Heirs/Legatees may initiate the process of determining whether they have been named in a deceased individual's will by consulting a notary of their choice and confidence.

Regards,
Dr Clara Farrugia Grixti
Notary Public, Malta.

Din hija mistoqsija li ħafna klijenti jistgħu jistaqsu. Ħafna drabi jkun hemm l-impressjoni li, jekk jiġri xi ħaġa, iż- werrieta irid jerġa’ lura għand l-istess nutar li ħejja ż- testment sabiex jinfetaħ. Madankollu, dan mhuwiex il-każ.

Ladarba testment jiġi ffirmat quddiem nutar f’Malta, jiġi reġistrat kif suppost jew fiż- Reġistru Pubbliku jew mal-Qrati ta’ Malta, skont it-tip tiegħu (pubbliku jew sigriet). Din ir-reġistrazzjoni tiżgura li ż- testment jista' jiġi rintraċċat wara l-mewt — irrispettivament minn jekk iż- werrieta jafux liema nutar fassalha.

Jekk iż- werrieta ma jkunux konxji tal-identità taż- nutar, jistgħu jmorru għand kwalunkwe nutar jew avukat, li jista’ jitlob tfittxija formali testment biex jidentifika jekk testment jeżistix u fejn jinżamm. Il-proċess huwa prattika sigura u standard.

Għalhekk, filwaqt li tista' tagħżel li tinforma werrieta tiegħek jew tħalli struzzjonijiet bil-miktub għas-serħan tal-moħħ, m'hemm l-ebda obbligu legali li tagħmel dan, u ż- testment tiegħek jibqa' aċċessibbli u legalment validu jew le.

Werrieta /Legati jistgħu jibdew il-proċess biex jiddeterminaw jekk ġewx imsemmija fiż- testment ta' individwu mejjet billi jikkonsultaw nutar tal-għażla u l-kunfidenza tagħhom.

Tislijiet,
Dr Clara Farrugia Grixti
Nutar pubbliku, Malta.