A new service from digital tech company adeus will prevent wills from being lost, tampered with, or disputed after death, the company says.
True Wills creates a permanent digital fingerprint secured using blockchain technology, and is fully compliant with UK law. It works alongside traditionally executed paper wills, signed and witnessed as required by current legislation. When the will has been created within the adeus platfrom, a unique digital fingerprint is generated and permanently secured using the True Will technology.
The document itself is never stored on the blockchain, but the digital fingerprint provides cryptographic proof of authenticity. Families and executors receive verifiable proof of the will’s authenticity through an adeus True Will certificate, which the company says will dramatically reduce grounds for disputes.
“Making a will is one of the most important decisions we make, yet traditional paper wills are surprisingly vulnerable,” said Nick Adams, CEO of adeus.
“True Wills removes the uncertainty. Your will is permanently protected, clearly time-stamped, and impossible to alter. This gives you peace of mind today and protects your loved ones from unnecessary conflict when it matters most.”
The company is keen to stress customers don’t need to be familiar with blockchain to use the technology. “”We’ve deliberately abstracted the complexity from our customers,” said Mark Hedley, chief operating officer.
“People don’t need to understand blockchain or cryptography. They simply create their will through our intuitive platform and receive confirmation that it’s protected. Behind the scenes, sophisticated, secure technology provides institutional-grade security wrapped in an experience that feels as simple as online banking.”
The company plans to make the trademarked platform available beyond its direct customers, with the technology offered to independent will writers and solicitors so they can provide True Wills protection to their own clients.
“For people with more complex needs who require expert legal advice, solicitors and will writers continue to do what they do best, taking instructions, drafting, and overseeing the signing of wills,” said Hedley. “We take care of the rest, ensuring their clients’ wills are protected with the same institutional-grade security.”
The platform has been designed to adapt when electronic wills are introduced in England and Wales later this year, following the Law Commission’s recommendations.
The launch represents the first major product release from an innovation project supported by an Innovate UK Smart Grant, with additional products planned for release in the first half of 2026.
One Response
Can this system be used retrospectively, to prove a will has been forged?
My late brother/ next of kin had his entire estate embezzled by the nephew of his late wife, as an octogenarian, dementia sufferer, and it was completed with total impunity!
A Conservative estimate of my brother’s estate was in the region of £800, 000+.