how to find a lawyer who is holding a copy of family members will

Finding the lawyer requires research and detective work, but public records often aid the search. Courthouse Search Go to the county courthouse in the county where the deceased person lived. Search the civil litigation, family law and criminal court records by party name to see whether any records contain the deceased person's name.

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How do I find a copy of a deceased person’s will?

Aug 10, 2012 · If your mother is being difficult, you may consider sending her a certified letter 1) stating that you know that you were named as a fiduciary of the estate 2) demanding that she provide a copy of the will, and 3) stating failure to do so will result in the hiring of an attorney. You should consult with a lawyer knowledgeable with probate.

How do I find a deceased lawyer's Lawyer?

Dec 07, 2008 · The decedent's lawyer might have kept a copy if he drafted the document. If you don't know who that lawyer is, consider placing a notice in the local newspaper. You can also check with the probate court. Some states allow individuals to file their own wills before their deaths for safekeeping. 2

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

Jul 14, 2021 · 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: Personal papers Desk Drawers

Why does a probate attorney ask for a copy of will?

What happens if my mother's lawyer files probate?

If your mother's lawyer filed the probate petition with the surrogate's#N#court (in the county where your grandmother lived), the lawyer's name and#N#info will be on it. In order for your mother to have authority to act on#N#behalf of the estate, the petition has to be filed and approved by the#N#court. If you were named as co-executor in the will, your mother should not...

How to become executor of a will?

In order to officially receive Letters Testamentary and become the executor, a probate petition would need to be filed at the Surrogate's Court. If you were named as co-Executor under the will, you would have to be noticed. If your mother is being difficult, you may consider sending her a certified letter 1) stating that you know that you were named as a fiduciary of the estate 2) demanding that she provide a copy...

Can a will be probated without your involvement?

If the will names you as executor or co-executor, it can't properly be probated without your involvement. To determine whether the will has been probated, you can contact the Surrogate's Court. If your mother is holding a will on which you are named executor, you may need to bring a court claim, which would be in Surrogate's Court.

Who should receive a copy of a will?

The Beneficiaries Named in the Will. All beneficiaries named in a will are entitled to receive a copy of it so they can understand what they'll be receiving from the estate and when they'll be receiving it. 4 If any beneficiary is a minor, his natural or legal guardian should be given a copy of the will on his behalf.

Who are the heirs at law?

Heirs at law are individuals who are so closely related to the decedent that they would have inherited from her if she had not left a will. All states have prescribed lists detailing who these people are.

What is a pour over will?

The last will and testament might be a " pour-over will ." This type of will often comes into play when the deceased had a revocable living trust that was not completely funded prior to his death — not all his assets had been placed into the trust's ownership. This type of will simply directs that any property left outside the trust should be moved into the trust at his death.

Can a will be read by anyone?

Remember that a will becomes a public record for anyone to see and read when it's filed for probate with the state court. The beneficiaries of the will can request that the probate judge seal the court records to prevent the general public from viewing it under certain circumstances.

Who do you start with in a prescribed list?

They commonly begin with a surviving spouse, if any, then children, grandchildren, and outward to more distant relatives in an ever-widening arc. More distant relatives typically do not inherit unless all those who precede them in line are also deceased.

Is there such a thing as a reading of a will?

Contrary to scenes you might have seen enacted on television or in the movies, there's really no such thing as a "reading of a will.". There's no legal requirement that a last will and testament must be read aloud to anyone.

Does a pour over will require probate?

A pour-over will also require a probate proceeding, and the successor trustee — the individual named to manage the trust after the owner's death — must receive a copy of the will. It should explain how the executor and the successor trustee should work together to settle the trust and the probate estate. It sometimes happens, however, that ...

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.