How To Find Out Someone's Last Will And Testament

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The just time yous tin can locate a terminal volition and testament -- legally -- is after the testator is dead. During a person's lifetime, her will is individual and attempts to view or abscond with it are considered criminal. A will is the written clarification of the testator 's intentions for her property after her expiry. It includes devises and names an executor to administrate the will. When the testator dies, the executor files the will in probate court; that is where you -- and any other member of the public -- can locate it.

Find out where the executor filed the will. If you cannot detect the information from relatives, expect first in the courtroom in the county in which the testator resided during her final years. Telephone the courtroom to determine probate procedures. Some jurisdictions offering an automated probate phone line; yous enter the name and appointment of decease of the deceased to learn whether probate is open up in that county and, if so, the probate number. Other courts employ an Internet site. In many states, all the same, y'all must become in person to the probate court.

Read More than: How to Find Out If a Deceased Person Had a Volition

Visit the probate court during business hours. Provide the name and date of death of the deceased -- or the probate case number if you found it -- and ask for the probate file. The court clerk locates the file and instructs you where to review information technology. Do non attempt to alter or remove whatever document. Altering court property constitutes a serious criminal crime. If yous wish to review the will at home, request a copy from the court clerk and pay a per-page fee.

Look further if the clerk tells y'all that the will of the deceased is non on file in that country. Consider the possibility that the deceased recorded a different habitation as her master residence. Repeat the to a higher place steps in each county in which the deceased owned belongings until you locate the will.

Review archived wills if the death occurred years earlier. The probate clerk explains the archived will procedure to you. In some jurisdictions, a court employee looks up quondam wills using the information you provide; in others, you look through a courtroom probate alphabetize. Newer wills are microfilmed but older documents are originals; treat them gently.

Tips

An obituary often mentions the county of residence of the deceased. Alternatively, look on the decease certificate. Obtain the death certificate from the office of vital statistics in the county in which the expiry occurred.