how to i find out the estate lawyer of a disceased loved one

by Hector Zboncak Jr. 3 min read

Finding the lawyer requires research and detective work, but public records often aid the 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.

Call or write to the Notary Public who notarized the deceased's signature. Many Notaries Public are employed by law firms as a convenience to clients who have to sign legal documents. If that is the case, the Notary Public can tell you who the deceased person's lawyer was.

Full Answer

How do I find a deceased lawyer's Lawyer?

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.

How do I find a deceased loved one’s property?

Sep 20, 2021 · Step 1: Look through your loved one’s personal property. Most people keep their personal property at home. Within the home, there often are documents and items that identify what property the decedent owned. One of the first documents you should look for is a will.

What if I am the executor of a deceased loved one?

Aug 16, 2021 · Referencing the will itself is the best way to find out who the executor is. If possible, locate the document wherever it’s stored or reach out to the deceased person’s estate attorney to get the information. It’s important to make sure the will you’re referencing is the most recent version if your loved one made changes to a previous version.

How do I find out who is the executor of an estate?

Oct 11, 2018 · How to Find Assets of a Deceased Loved One CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION : (847) 549-0600 When a person passes away, it is up to his or her Executor (if one was appointed in a Will) to find any assets of the estate.

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How do you look up someone's will online Canada?

Visit the Canada Will Registry website and click the Search for a Will button to prepare your Search Query. If you'd like to register your will, to ensure that it can be found when it's needed, Willful customers can register their wills on the Canada Will Registry at no charge.

How do you find out which solicitor is dealing with a Will UK?

How do I find a Will?Survey the house. It may sound funny, but the first place you should look at is the deceased's home since many people store their Will or a copy of it in their homes. ... Inquire from their solicitor. ... Carry out a Will search.Nov 20, 2020

How do you check if someone has left a will?

look in the deceased's safe / box or drawer of 'valuable documents' ask family and friends if they are aware of a Will having been prepared. ask the deceased's accountant / solicitor / financial advisor / bank – as they may have a copy or they may have helped the deceased to draft up a Will.

Are all Wills public record?

Only Wills that are sent to the Probate Registry become public. This means the Will that is in place when you die becomes public, but any Wills that you have written previously will remain private given they were voided by the new Will.Dec 12, 2019

The Information Is Public Record

In many cases, surviving family members might not have a copy of the will or they might be unsure whether the copy they have is the most recent version. Fortunately, this information is public record, which means obtaining the information is a straightforward process.

What If There Is No Will?

When someone dies without a will, their estate’s assets are distributed and debts are paid through a state’s intestate process. The probate court can appoint someone as an administrator, which is very similar to the role an executor plays when carrying out a will.

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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.

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.

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.

Is a power of attorney valid after death?

Unfortunately, the power of attorney you may have had in place is no longer valid following the death, and it is important to understand that distinction. A previous power of attorney does not give you the power to handle the estate after the death of your loved one.

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 word of mouth reliable?

With physical newspapers becoming rarer and rarer, you cannot rely on the obituaries to get the word out, and word of mouth may not be as reliable as you would think. It is important to notify everyone you know when a loved one dies. Not only will they want to attend the memorial service, but they may have an interest in the estate as well.

Do you need a death certificate for a funeral?

The death certificate should become available after the funeral process has been completed, and most funeral homes will help loved ones get the documentation they need. If you do not receive a death certificate from the funeral home, you should ask the funeral director for one as soon as possible. You will need a death certificate ...

How to get a copy of a will in California?

Easy, just go to the court in the California County in which your loved one lived at the time of their death and ask for a copy because every Will is required by law to be lodge with the court after death. Just kidding, people rarely lodge a Will with the court even though the law requires it. In fact, obtaining a copy of a Trust or Will ...

How to get a copy of a will?

To start the process of obtaining a copy of the Trust and Will, you should send the estate representative a written demand to see the documents. This can be as simple as an email to the person holding the documents to provide you with copies. If they refuse or fail to do so, then you must file a petition in court ...

Do you have to file a will with the court?

For starters, Wills are usually only lodged with the court when someone files a petition in court seeking to open probate for the decedent. This is a rarity since most assets pass outside of probate these days. As such, there is no practical need for anyone to lodge the Will with the court, so they don’t. They should, but they don’t.

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.

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.

Where do you keep a will?

However, many people keep their will with other important papers in their desk, drawer, or file cabinet. If possible, literally rummage through the decedent’s papers and personal belongings.

Can a probate court accept a copy of a will?

People who go to an attorney to draft their will usually leave the original, executed version of their will with their attorney. A probate court will not accept a copy of a will—it will only accept the original.

What is a will registry?

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

Can you locate a will that you are not sure exists?

Trying to locate a will that you are not even sure exists can seem like trying to grasp the wind. However, when people draft wills, they usually do the same things with them:

What is probate court?

In most states, the court that handles probate cases is called the probate court, but in some states, it may be called surrogate's court or district court. You will most likely need to go to the appropriate court in the county where the deceased person lived.

How does the executor of a will start probate?

The executor begins the probate process by filing a petition in probate court in the deceased person's county of residence. Generally, when a probate case is opened, the will is one of the first documents filed and becomes a public record available for anyone to inspect.

Who is the executor of a will?

The executor is the person named in the will who administers the estate during the probate process, including having assets appraised, paying creditors, and distributing assets to the deceased's beneficiaries. If you know who the executor is, you can simply approach her personally and ask.

What happens before an executor can distribute assets?

Before the executor can distribute any assets from the estate, she must pay any outstanding debts and taxes. This process requires notifying the creditors and waiting a specified time period for them to submit their claims against the estate as well as preparing final income and estate or inheritance tax returns.

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