how would i find the lawyer my mother used for her will

by Omer O'Conner 4 min read

Ask your mother. If you get nowhere, see if you can find the attorney who drafted the will. He may have the original, a signed copy, or even a blank copy.

Below are a few common places where wills are kept and some tips for how to find out if a will exists.
  • Search the Person's Home. The obvious answer is not always the simplest one. ...
  • Look in the Safe Deposit Box. ...
  • Contact Local Law Firms and Past Attorneys. ...
  • Check With the County Courthouse.

Full Answer

How do I find out which solicitor has my mother's will?

This will contact all solicitors in a given geographical area to identify which solicitor, if any, has your mothers will. If they do they will make contact but would probably require proof of identity and the death certificate, which you should be able to obtain yourself.

Can I get a copy of my mother's will?

The Will should have been filed with the Court whether your Mother's estate was probated or not. Yes, you can obtain a copy at the courthouse if the Will was filed. * This will flag comments for moderators to take action. Lawyers from our extensive network are ready to answer your question.

What do I do if I have the original will?

Whomever has the original Last Will and Testament will need to provide it to the court. You can start the process as an interested person and tell the court the name of the party that is in possession of the Will.

How do I find a deceased lawyer's Lawyer?

Ask employees at the records clerk's office how to locate and access the file. Once you have the file, search it for the name of any lawyer or law firm that is listed as attorney of record for the deceased. Copy this information.

Who to call when a deceased person is a lawyer?

How to find out if someone died in court?

How to find a notarized deed for a deceased person?

How to help a deceased person?

How to contact a lawyer whose name is invalid?

What documents require notarization?

See more

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How to Find Someone’s Will After Their Death: Step-By-Step

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Finding a Will After Someone Dies - Co-op Legal Services

Finding a person's will after they have died can sometimes be easier said than done. In this article, we explain where to look for the will and what to do if you simply cannot find it.

How to Find Probate Records Online - SmartAsset

Probate records can be public and searched to obtain information about deceased persons and their estates. Here's how (and where) to get information.

Who to call when a deceased person is a lawyer?

Call the lawyers who represented other parties in any lawsuits or disputes in which the deceased was involved. Opposing lawyers may remember whether the deceased consulted a lawyer whose name may not have made it on to final documents.

How to find out if someone died in court?

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. If the deceased ever sued someone, got sued by someone, got divorced, got arrested or cited for a traffic violation, the county courthouse should have a file on the event. Ask employees at the records clerk's office how to locate and access the file. Once you have the file, search it for the name of any lawyer or law firm that is listed as attorney of record for the deceased. Copy this information.

How to find a notarized deed for a deceased person?

Get out all the signed legal documents that were found among the deceased's property and look for any signatures that were notarized. Go to the county assessor's office in the county where the deceased person owned real property and search for notarized deed records. Signatures on deeds, divorce settlement agreements and affidavits are examples of documents that require notarization. If the deceased's signature was notarized, that means that he signed the document before a notary public. Where you find a notarized signature, make note of the name, location and commission number of the Notary Public.

How to help a deceased person?

Ask them if they know about events in the deceased's life that would have required legal representation, like an arrest or a lawsuit. Follow up on any leads.

How to contact a lawyer whose name is invalid?

Call the contact telephone numbers that were listed for the attorneys whose names you found in the court records.If the telephone numbers are invalid, call the state bar association for the state in which the lawyers practiced and ask to speak to the person in charge of membership records. If the lawyer is still a member, the state bar association should have her contact information.

What documents require notarization?

Signatures on deeds, divorce settlement agreements and affidavits are examples of documents that require notarization. If the deceased's signature was notarized, that means that he signed the document before a notary public.

Who has details of the deceased's solicitors?

the Funeral Home may have details of the deceased's solicitors.

What questions will the DWP ask before paying housing benefits?

The first question the DWP will ask before paying any housing benefit will be about the relationship between the claimant and the landlord - In cases where the tenant is a close relation to the landlord, the DWP will not make any payments.

Can you ask your brother to sign a reviiew?

However, it might be easier to ask your brother to get the solicitor to send the agreement to you for you to reviiew. You don't have to say that you will agree, but he may make that assumption. If he asks you again about agreeing then simply say "you'll need to ask the lawyer to send me anything you want me to sign".

Can a brother let a house?

If there is a house involved then probate 'should' be applied for. However the brother could just let the house as he intends. The best advice is the stealth method of finding out which solicitor holds the will but then if you are not an executor not sure what actions you can take unless probate taken out.

What happens if your mother's will is not probated?

If a Will is not filed with the court and is not being probated, it is highly likely that the property was not titled in only your mother's name. Perhaps your cousin is named on the deed as owning the property jointly "with right of survivorship." When one joint owner died, the other automatically became the sole owner. Emily, you should consider hiring a Virginia estate attorney to figure out what happened, understand your mother's intentions, and advise you on how to proceed. To your success,Gale Allison, Principal AttorneyAllison Firm, PLLCwww.theallisonfirm.comwww.linkedin.com/in/galeallison.com

What happens if a will is not filed?

If a Will is not filed with the court and is not being probated, it is highly likely that the property was not titled in only your mother's name. Perhaps your cousin is named on the deed as owning the property jointly "with right of survivorship.". When one joint owner died, the other automatically became the sole owner.

How to get a copy of a will from your sister?

Try the courthouse in the department which handles probates. Also, write a letter to your sister requesting a copy of the will and to see the ring.

How to transfer mother's property?

In order to transfer your mother's property, you will have to open a probate. The probate allows the court to oversee the distribution of property. Whomever has the original Last Will and Testament will need to provide it to the court. You can start the process as an interested person and tell the court the name of the party that is in possession of the Will. In order to probate, the personal representative will need to hire an attorney.

Why do you have to probate a house?

Because the was real property (home), the estate had to be probated to transfer title. A probate is initiated by filing the Will along with some other documents. Hence, you should be able to read and get a copy of the Will through the court records.

How long after death can you file a will?

I would start by calling the probate court in the town where your mom lived. A will is supposed to be filed with the probate court 30 days after death whether or not a probate was opened. If the will was filed, the probate court will have it and you will be able to get a copy.

What happens if a mother leaves her house to one child?

Well, it should have gone to probate, but if your mother's plan was to leave her house to one child, she could have made that child a joint owner of the property during her lifetime (it's not a good idea, but it's done all the time). But if it went to probate, you'd have gotten notice of the probate at that time. There's no reason to think that the will still exists at this point. If there was probate, the court will have the will. If not, it may have been destroyed.

Can I copy a will lodged young O Tao?

If the Will was lodged young o Tao. A copy from the courthouse. Also I'd the Will was probated a copy may be attached to the initial petition. As far as what is required, i.e., probate, it is difficult to say without knowing how the assets were titled at the time of your mother's death. Best of luck to you. Seek out legal Counsel if you are unsure.

Can a will be filed with the probate court?

Sometimes a will is filed with the probate court where the deceased lived sometimes not Sometimes a will is actually put in storage at the probate court where the deceased lived sometimes not Contact the probate court to find out. If its not there is little you can do. Also ask if your mother's estate was ever probated BTW If there was a probate action you should have gotten notice. I am curious because you say. She had a home/property but all 6 of the siblings knew she was going to leave the home to one sister. The only way to do that without was the title in your mom and your sisters names with a right of survivor ship. If not you could be eligible to get 1/6 of the house also.

Who to call when a deceased person is a lawyer?

Call the lawyers who represented other parties in any lawsuits or disputes in which the deceased was involved. Opposing lawyers may remember whether the deceased consulted a lawyer whose name may not have made it on to final documents.

How to find out if someone died in court?

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. If the deceased ever sued someone, got sued by someone, got divorced, got arrested or cited for a traffic violation, the county courthouse should have a file on the event. Ask employees at the records clerk's office how to locate and access the file. Once you have the file, search it for the name of any lawyer or law firm that is listed as attorney of record for the deceased. Copy this information.

How to find a notarized deed for a deceased person?

Get out all the signed legal documents that were found among the deceased's property and look for any signatures that were notarized. Go to the county assessor's office in the county where the deceased person owned real property and search for notarized deed records. Signatures on deeds, divorce settlement agreements and affidavits are examples of documents that require notarization. If the deceased's signature was notarized, that means that he signed the document before a notary public. Where you find a notarized signature, make note of the name, location and commission number of the Notary Public.

How to help a deceased person?

Ask them if they know about events in the deceased's life that would have required legal representation, like an arrest or a lawsuit. Follow up on any leads.

How to contact a lawyer whose name is invalid?

Call the contact telephone numbers that were listed for the attorneys whose names you found in the court records.If the telephone numbers are invalid, call the state bar association for the state in which the lawyers practiced and ask to speak to the person in charge of membership records. If the lawyer is still a member, the state bar association should have her contact information.

What documents require notarization?

Signatures on deeds, divorce settlement agreements and affidavits are examples of documents that require notarization. If the deceased's signature was notarized, that means that he signed the document before a notary public.

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