what can i do if my mother's lawyer said she do not have a copy of my mother's will

by Yazmin Lueilwitz 7 min read

You can file a petition to compel the attorney or executor to give you the will or lodge the original with the court. Call or email an attorney for a full consultation. 0 found this answer helpful

Full Answer

How do I get a copy of my mom's will?

Mar 13, 2013 · It needs to be probated. If an original Will cannot be produced there is a presumption that it has been destroyed and revoked. However, there is a proceeding to probate a copy. You need a lawyer to do it. In the alternative, you will need to bring an administration proceeding. You can't do either of there things without a lawyer.

What to do if you can't find a copy of a will?

Determining who can inherit property from your mother upon her death is complicated. As you're handling your mother's estate, you may have questions about your state's requirements on succession. You should consult with an attorney or use an online service provider to assist you in answering any questions you may have. By receiving additional guidance, you can gain …

What to do if you can't find your loved one's attorney?

Aug 09, 2013 · The will is technically supposed to be lodged with the court. You can check there. Often times people do not do that which would make it very difficult, absent finding a family member who has a copy, to get your hands on it - especially 9 years later. Check the court and if you cannot find it there, send the letter without it.

Did your loved one's lawyer keep the original will?

Mar 28, 2014 · However, Ohio law provides at without a will - when the widow isn't the mother of his children - the property of the deceased is split between his widow and his children. You would need to go to the probate court and open his estate. Report Abuse JF James P. Frederick (Unclaimed Profile) Update Your Profile Answered on Apr 03rd, 2014 at 4:21 AM

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Who is entitled to a copy of a will NZ?

On a person's death, the only people entitled to a copy of the Will are the executors and beneficiaries named in the Will.

Are beneficiaries entitled to a copy of the will UK?

Strictly speaking a beneficiary has no entitlement as of right to such documentation and it is your discretion as Executor whether or not to disclose it.

How do you get a copy of a will online South Africa?

Once probate has been granted, members of the public can obtain a copy of any will that has been lodged with the Probate Registry, online through CourtSA (after creating an account and conducting a search).Jan 7, 2020

How do you get a copy of a probated will in Texas?

Probate records of Texas have been kept by the probate clerk in each county courthouse. You can obtain copies of the records from the clerk's office. In most counties, all information pertaining to a probate case is recorded in the "probate minutes."Nov 15, 2021

Do executors need to consult beneficiaries?

Executors have a duty to communicate with beneficiaries. If they are not doing so, you are entitled to take action. Schedule a free consultation with our probate lawyers to learn what you can do to enforce your rights as a beneficiary.

Does an executor have to notify beneficiaries?

One of the foremost fiduciary duties required of an Executor is to put the estate's beneficiaries' interests first. This means you must notify them that they are a beneficiary. As Executor, you should notify beneficiaries of the estate within three months after the Will has been filed in Probate Court.Sep 3, 2019

Who keeps the original copy of a will?

Generally, attorneys, banks and financial institutions who offer the service of drawing Wills, also offer the service of keeping your Will in safekeeping for you. Most attorneys, who offer such a service, do not charge a fee to keep your Will in safekeeping.Nov 1, 2017

Who is entitled to a copy of a will in South Africa?

Anyone who is an immediate family member of the deceased, whether or not he or she is listed in the will, is legally entitled to view a copy. The same applies to anyone who is listed in the will as a beneficiary.

What makes a will invalid in South Africa?

The expression of a testator's last wishes must be the result of the exercise of his or her own volition. Any impairment to the free expression of the testator's wishes at the time the will is made may result in a will being declared invalid.

How much does an estate have to be worth to go to probate in Texas?

$75,000The court appoints the executor who was named in the will to manage the estate. This involves not only protecting and distributing the decedent's assets, but also taking care of his or her debts and liabilities. Any estate worth less than $75,000 is not required to go through the court.Oct 25, 2021

How much does it cost to probate a will in Texas?

The Cost Of Probate With A Will Court costs are about $380 in Texas. A more complicated estate might run slightly more in attorneys' fees, but it would be unusual for the fees to exceed $2,500.Mar 3, 2022

How much does an estate have to be worth to go to probate?

Every state has laws that spell out how much an estate would need to be worth to require the full probate process—anywhere from $10,000 to $275,000.Apr 13, 2022

What is the UPC in probate?

Although intestate laws vary by state, many states follow the Uniform Probate Code (UPC), a uniform act drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) that governs will and estates. Under the UPC, a deceased person's property passes to close relatives, such as parents, spouses, and children, ...

How long do you have to live to inherit property?

Depending on state laws, heirs can inherit property if they live for a certain period of time after the decedent's death. For example, a spouse must outlive their significant other by five days to inherit any property belonging to the decedent.

What happens to your mother's estate when she dies?

If your mother had a spouse at the time of her death, then the distribution of her estate depends upon the ownership and titling of her assets. Generally, the majority of her assets would pass to her surviving spouse. Children or grandchildren may inherit a smaller share.

What happens to inheritance when you die at the same time?

If heirs pass away at the same time as the decedent, then state law governs who survived the other. Many states follow the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, which governs inheritance when people die concurrently, such as in a car accident.

What happens if your mother dies without a will?

If your mother died without a will, then she died intestate. The state where she lived will handle your mother's estate and distribute her assets. In order to do this, the state will look to the intestate succession laws. Although intestate laws vary by state, many states follow the Uniform Probate Code ...

What happens if you don't have a close relative?

Under the UPC, a deceased person's property passes to close relatives, such as parents, spouses, and children, as opposed to distant relatives. If no close relatives are alive, the property passes to either distant relatives or the state. 1. Appoint an Executor.

What happens to your estate if you have no parents?

If no parents are alive, then the estate passes in equal shares to you and your siblings. If your mother was single with children, then the estate would pass in equal shares to the children. If one or more of her children has died, then those shares would pass to those siblings' children—your niece (s) and nephew (s).

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.

Where is a will filed?

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.

Can a will be filed if there is no will?

If the Will was ever filed with the court or there was a probate estate, then yes, it would be on file there. If it was probated, you would already have received a copy. If probate is needed, and there is no Will, it would not change the result...the estate would still be equally divided by you and your siblings.

Can you share a ring if your sister refuses?

So Will or not, unless the ring was given to your sister, you are entitled to your share. Of course, if your sister refuses, then you would need to hire an attorney and go to the court. That might not be worth it, on a number of levels. Report Abuse.

What happens if your dad dies without a will?

If your Dad died with no will (if you can't prove that it was your stepmother who destroyed it) then his estate is split between stepmother and you and your sister. So, destroying the will puts her a little ahead of where she would have been had your Dad's will left none to her she would still have been able to claim a "spousal share" depending on how long they were married. The insurance policies will pay out to named beneficiaries, and are not affected by the will. You should get a lawyer and be prepared to administer the estate if stepmother does not move to do so.

What happens if no will is found in Florida?

If no will is found, your father's estate would pass pursuant to Florida's intestacy laws. You really should consult with a probate attorney right away to ensure that your interests, as a child of the decedent, are protected.

What to do if your father lost his will?

If your father had a Will that cannot be located you would have to find a copy and then attempt to prove it was lost. It is possible to prove a Will was lost but it is difficult. Perhaps you can locate the attorney that helped your father create the Will and get a copy from the attorney. It is a place to start.

Can you prove a will?

"Knowing it" is one thing, but being able to prove or show it might be another. Unless you can show some concrete evidence of a Will, you might not be able to show anything? If he had a Will done through an attorney, if you can find that attorney he/she might have a copy and/or might know where the original was kept.

What happens if you don't find a will?

In most states, if you fail to locate a will, the law presumes that it’s because your loved one revoked it before his death by destroying it. The court will probate his estate as though he died intestate -- that is, without a will. However, if you were able to find a copy, you can try to convince the court to honor it.

What to do if you can't find an attorney?

If you can’t find the attorney, you’ll have to figure out where he might have placed the will when he stopped practicing. Some state probate courts accept wills for safekeeping before the testator’s death. If yours does, call the court to see if the attorney transferred possession of the will to the court. If not, the court might have knowledge of ...

How to find out if an attorney has made a major contribution to a charity recently?

You can also search for information online and in the newspaper. The attorney may have made a major contribution to a charity recently or won a golf tournament. If you can find mention of him, the website or newspaper might have interviewed him. Contact them and ask if they know where you can reach him.

How to find out if a lawyer drafted a will?

Call your state’s bar association to find out if it still has contact information for him. Check the phone directory for personal listings of people with the same name. Attorneys don’t often list their home phone numbers, even after they’ve retired, but if you can reach a relative and explain your situation, she might be willing to have the lawyer call you. You can also contact other local attorneys, especially those who practice estate law. Lawyers are often a tight-knit group and some of them may have stayed in touch with him. You can also search for information online and in the newspaper. The attorney may have made a major contribution to a charity recently or won a golf tournament. If you can find mention of him, the website or newspaper might have interviewed him. Contact them and ask if they know where you can reach him.

Can you find the original will of a loved one?

This can be important if you don't find the original. If you can't find the attorney, and if you can’t determine where he put his documents when he stopped practicing, consider what your loved one might have done ...

Can a lawyer toss a will into the trash?

If your loved one left his last will and testament with his attorney for safekeeping, the attorney can’t toss the will into a trash bin when he decides to retire or close his office. Not only do the laws in most states prohibit this, lawyers have an ethical responsibility to safeguard their clients’ documents.

Can an attorney call you after retirement?

Attorneys don’t often list their home phone numbers, even after they’ve retired, but if you can reach a relative and explain your situation, she might be willing to have the lawyer call you . You can also contact other local attorneys, especially those who practice estate law.

Why is time for yourself important?

Time to pamper oneself - to see a movie, visit friends, enjoy a hobby is very important, if only because the lack of it can cause slow but accumulated damage to one's physical and mental health.

Can a caregiver take a salary?

A caregiver can take a salary for their work (check with the IRS or a lawyer for specifics); if the parent lives with you, the cost of a home-aide or a babysitter can also legitimately be paid from the parent's assets. Just be sure to get a receipt of some kind from the babysitter.

Brian Jason Dean

You are entitled to review the Will. I can't comment much on whether or not she is obligated to give you and your brother your inheritance because I don't know what your inheritance consists of and who holds title to the inheritance property.

Joseph Franklin Pippen Jr

It might be that your Dad and stepmom owned everything jointly and you are not entitledto anything at this time. If she has possession of the will-she would be required to file it which would make it a public record.

How long does it take to file a will in Texas?

If there is a will, it must be filed with the probate court within 10 days of death. Generally there is no penalty if its not done timely, but you can sue to have her comply and the statutes provide for attorneys fees. As stated above, this may do you no good if everything was jointly owned.

Can you get a copy of a probate document?

You should have a right to get copies of any probate documents filed with the Court. However, in many situations, there is no formal probate when one spouse dies as everything may have been owned jointly. If there is no probate, then there is nothing to disclose. Some states, like New Hampshire, have a rule that Agents under Powers of Attorney must give accountings to family members. You should see if this is true...

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