Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

So long as you are certain your new will is properly signed and witnessed, there is no reason to keep the old will. If you did the will yourself with an internet will kit, this may be a critical issue. Furthermore, to avoid confusion, any person in possession of a copy of your old will needs to know you have a new one.

You should completely destroy it. Also you should be aware that Illinois does not recognize "holographic" wills. These are Wills that you create yourself and which are not signed with the required formalities. If you used a lawyer to prepare your new Will, he should have advised you to destroy the old one. If you did it yourself, you should take it to a lawyer for review and to assertain if it was done correctly. Do not destroy the old Will until you have had this done..