An amendment to the Ministry of Justice ordinance governing will custody at Legal Affairs Bureaus (Ordinance No. 8 of 2026) was promulgated and took effect on March 2, 2026. The amendment to Japan's self-written will custody system introduces three main changes: a new non-disclosure measure for domestic violence (DV) victims' address information, expanded scope for omitting information and documents related to a testator's death in requests, and simplified application forms.
Change 1: New Non-Disclosure Measure for DV Victims
After a testator's death, when heirs, beneficiaries, or executors obtain a Certificate of Will Information or view the will on a monitor, the display includes not only the will's image data but also the testator's address and registered domicile and the address of the beneficiary or executor. Where displaying this information could cause harm to a DV victim or similarly situated person (such as someone receiving DV support measures from a municipality), a new system now allows a request to the will custody officer that this information not be displayed.
- Covers: the testator's address and registered domicile, and the address of beneficiaries/executors (shown as a dash "－" on certificates and viewing screens)
- Who may request: the testator themselves; after death, the person subject to the non-disclosure measure (or their heir if that person has also died); a legal representative may also request
- Where to request: any will custody office nationwide (not limited to the office holding the will)
- Required attachment: documentation showing risk of harm (e.g., a notice of decision on DV support measures)
- Caution: the original will document and its image data itself are not subject to non-disclosure (masking is generally not possible), so testators should avoid writing addresses or domiciles they wish to keep confidential directly in the will's body text
Change 2: Expanded Scope for Omitting Information in Requests
Where the will custody office already has a record of the testator's death — for example, because a notice to a designated recipient or related notice has already been sent, or a Certificate of Will Information or Certificate of Will Custody Status has already been issued — requests for a Certificate of Will Custody Status or for viewing application documents may now omit the testator's last address, registered domicile, and date of death, as well as the attachment of documents proving the testator's death (such as a removed family register). This allows, for example, a beneficiary or executor unrelated to the testator's family who does not know the testator's address or domicile to first request viewing of application documents in order to confirm that information.
Change 3: Simplified Application and Will Formats
- The name-entry field for applicants, notifiers, and requesters has been removed from application, notification, and request forms (previous forms may still be used)
- Page numbering is no longer required when the will submitted for custody consists of a single page (still required for wills of two or more pages)
Summary
- Ministry of Justice Ordinance No. 8 of 2026 was promulgated and took effect March 2, 2026
- A new system allows DV victims and similarly situated persons to request non-disclosure of the testator's address and related information
- Where the testator's death is already on record, more information and documents may be omitted from requests
- Forms are simplified: name-entry fields removed, and page numbering waived for single-page wills
Those who may qualify as DV victims and are considering using the self-written will custody system should accurately understand the scope of the non-disclosure measure — noting that the original will document itself is not covered — and take care about what is written in the will's body text. For questions about will drafting or custody applications, consult Sakura Central Legal Office (MOJ-certified application agent).