how do a lawyer find out you have died

The most common reason for trying to locate a deceased person's lawyer is to find out whether the person ever made a last will and testament. The deceased's property should be distributed according to her wishes, and the best way to determine those wishes is through her will.

Full Answer

What should I do when my attorney dies?

Is this scenario, you should quickly find another attorney that can take your case. When you hire a new attorney, you will need to contact the administrative person of your deceased attorney’s office and get all of your case files.

How do I find out if someone has died in court?

The federal clerk of the court maintains bankruptcy records, tax court records, and records related to federal civil and criminal charges. Search any files you find for the name of a lawyer or law firm that represented the deceased. Copy any information you find.

What if I don't know the name of the decedent’s attorney?

If you don't know the name of the decedent’s attorney, you should ask family members and friends if the decedent might have had an attorney. If they don’t know, search the decedent’s personal belongings for either a will or any evidence of dealings with an attorney or a law firm.

How do I find a will of a deceased person?

You can start by looking through the deceased’s possessions and documents for a will, but in many cases, the will may be stored elsewhere. You can check with the bank where the deceased had his or her accounts – the will may be stored in a safe deposit box. You can also check with the attorney who handled taxes and other matters for the deceased.

Shawn Reinke

The easiest way to get the date of your divorce is to contact court administration. You should be able to get the information you need with a quick phone call. A google search for " [name of county] family court administrator" will usually get you what you need.

Tricia Dwyer

I'm not sure exactly what records you need. The divorce decree and other limited legal docs' presumably are kept secured by local court admin.' & those records, with appropriate exception, are available to the public. Often the various counties have online info' stating how people may obtain copies of various records...

What to expect after a loved one dies?

The days and weeks following the death of a loved one can seem like a blur. The grieving process is difficult enough, but there will also be a funeral to plan, relatives to notify and financial issues to handle . Meeting with an estate attorney as soon as possible can ease your burden and make a difficult time easier to bear.

What is the best way to protect assets after a loved one dies?

The best way to protect the assets is to open the estate right away.

What happens if you don't open a probate estate?

If you fail to open a probate estate, you could be liable for taxes and other claims. Even if you do not think a probate estate is necessary, it is important to discuss your options with an experienced estate attorney.

How to contact an estate attorney in Arizona?

Call Arizona Estate Attorney Dave Weed at (480)426-8359 to discuss your case today.

What to do if you are unsure about your taxes?

If you are unsure about the tax situation, you should contact the person who handled returns for the deceased. They should have copies of past tax returns, and they should be up to speed on any outstanding audits, tax debts or other issues. The days and weeks following the death of a loved one can seem like a blur.

Do debts disappear when someone dies?

There is a great deal of confusion about how debts are handled when an individual dies. Some people think that these debts simply disappear when the debtor dies, but that is not always the case. While some debts are forgiven on death, others follow the deceased and become part of the estate. The good news is that the family members ...

Is it hard to handle an estate?

The death of a loved one is always hard, but the difficulty of handling the estate can make an already difficult situation that much worse. Dealing with the complexities of the estate, closing the financial affairs of a deceased loved one and handling the taxes due can really put a strain on your emotions.

Kelly Scott Davis

You may have mistaken his comment to mean he "had all his affairs in order" when he actually meant that he was mentally and spiritually ready for what was to come. However, your probate attorney will advertise in the local Bar associations to try to a) locate his estate planning attorney, or b) see if anyone can recall where the will might be.

Carol Anne Johnson

I agree with Mr. Zelinger Unfortunately there is no registery or other way to track the Will down. You have to scour all the place where he stored or kept documents and hope to find something. Look at his banking records and checks if he kept them and see if you can see any...

Charles Adam Shultz

Hard to say where his will is. This is an issue for many people.

What happens if your attorney dies in the middle of your case?

If your attorney has dies in the middle of your case and you are preparing for trial, there may be a delay in your trial date if you need to hire a new attorney. However, you should hire your new attorney as soon as possible so that there is not an unnecessary delay.

What happens if you file for substitution of attorney?

When your attorney files for a substitution of attorney with the court, he or she will likely be able to secure more time to prepare for trial or any future hearings. The down side of this situation is that you are likely going to have to pay more because your new attorney will have to learn your case all over again.

What should be included in a case file?

The case files should include all of your documents including documents, emails and letters that the attorney may have created for your case. Everything in your file (including any anything that you have given your attorney) should be returned to you as they are your property.

Do other attorneys know about your case?

If your lawyer is part of a firm of two or more attorneys, then it is probable that one of the other attorneys is at least slightly aware of your case. They may not know every element of what is happening with you case, but they will likely have a broad understanding of what your legal situation is.

Can you cover each other's cases?

In this scenario, when conflicts or vacations occur, each attorney would be able to cover each other’s cases. You might get lucky to find out that the other attorney has worked on your case and is very familiar with your particular circumstances.

Can you get money back from a deceased attorney?

The money that you receive back from your deceased attorney can be used to retain the new attorney that you hire.

What to do if you don't know the name of the decedent's attorney?

If you don't know the name of the decedent’s attorney, you should ask family members and friends if the decedent might have had an attorney. If they don’t know, search the decedent’s personal belongings for either a will or any evidence of dealings with an attorney or a law firm. You should search the decedent’s:

How to find someone's will?

How to Find Someone’s Will in Public Records or Probate Court. If the decedent’s will is already filed with the court, or if probate has already been completed, then the decedent’s will becomes a public record preserved by the court. This means that the decedent’s will is accessible to anyone who wants to see it.

What is a will registry?

A will registry is a service that a person uses after writing a will.

Why do you need to find a will?

There are a number of reasons why you may need to find a will: You want to know whether you can file the will in court to begin the probate process. You want to find out if the will has already been probated after death. You know the court has already probated the will, but you want to see what property was left and to whom that person left it.

What happens if a client dies and wants to change the will?

If the client ever wants to change or revoke terminate the will before they die, the attorney will have the most recent valid will to work with. If the client dies, the attorney will know who the executor is ( the executor is the person named in the will to handle the estate of the decedent).

How to find a will in a house?

If you're sure the will isn't in the home, here's how to find a will in six steps: Contact their attorney. Search a will registry.

What happens if someone close to you dies?

When someone writes a will, it ’s usually given to an attorney, stored in a safe place or hidden.

Can you lose a will in your attorney's safe?

If your wills are in your attorney’s safe, you do not have to worry about losing them. You may even be concerned that certain family members may go so far as to destroy your will to get a larger inheritance. If the will is in your attorney’s safe, that will not happen. In your case, this backfired.

Do attorneys keep wills?

A lot of attorneys offer to keep the original wills they prepare for their clients, at no charge. They do this so they can probate the estates of their clients. When a client dies, their children read the copy of the will and call the attorney whose name is stamped in big bold letters on the first page.