When you’ve had all the appropriate conversations with a family member and you are certain they have created a Will, it gives you peace of mind. When they pass away, and their Will or other important paperwork is seemingly impossible to locate, your peace of mind is shattered and a race against time begins. Sadly, it’s more common than you think for a Will to be so carefully tucked away that no one can find it. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to locate a missing Will.
- Contact the probate court in the county your loved one lived in to see if it is on file with the Court.
- Look in all the obvious places like file cabinets, nightstands, under mattresses, in the pages of a book or Bible, and in desk drawers. Don’t overlook home safes, the backs of pictures, and closet shelving.
- Ask other friends and family members. The deceased may have entrusted his will to a friend or family member you wouldn’t think to ask, so ask everyone. In the midst of grieving and making necessary arrangements, it can be easy to overlook asking every relative.
- If you know where your loved one banked – and, there may be more than one bank – check to see if they kept a safety deposit box. Bank officials or an attorney can help you gain legal access to its contents.
- If you can access their computer, check through documents, downloads, emails, and other files for a copy, a communication with their current attorney, or directions to the will’s location..
If after looking, you simply cannot locate the Will, call Grissom Law, LLC. We can assist you in locating a properly filed Will but if we cannot locate it, we can assist you in preparing and filing the appropriate petition to probate your loved one’s estate in the absence of a Will.
Disclaimer
This Blog/Web Site is made available for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and Grissom Law, LLC.