how can you find an attorney who wrote a will

by Prof. Elbert Harvey I 5 min read

Finding the Attorney Assuming he hasn’t died, you might be able to track down the lawyer who drafted the 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.

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

Can I ask a lawyer where a will has been placed?

If a lawyer drafted the will, that lawyer may have the original or a copy. If you don't know the lawyer's name, go through checkbooks for the last few years and look for payments to an individual lawyer or firm. If you know the lawyer's name but don't have an address or phone number, call the state bar association or check its website.

How can I find out if someone has a will?

Jan 27, 2009 · I'm sorry for your loss. Sometimes, athough not frequently, wills are filed with the probate court for the county where a person lives. If you call the court clerk, they will tell you. A better bet might be to go through your mother's checkbook or credit card statements and look for a check or payment to an attorney or law firm. Good luck!

How do you find out if a lawyer has passed away?

Jul 14, 2021 · Contact the attorney you’ve identified to see if they wrote a will for the decedent. If they did not, they may have referred the decedent to another attorney who did. If you learn that the decedent’s lawyer passed away or retired, the local or American Bar Association may be able to tell you if another lawyer took over and how to find her.

How do I get a copy of a deceased person's will?

Dec 11, 2013 · Google the name of all witnesses and the notary and see if any of those names is the name of a local attorney. If so, then you've likely found the drafting attorney. If none of those names belongs to an attorney, then you could randomly start calling attorneys in the area where the deceased person lived and ask if they drafted the Will.

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Is there a database for wills?

The National Will Register is our preferred provider of a National Will Register and will search service. It's used by thousands of solicitors every day to register and search for wills.

Is a will public record?

A will becomes a public record when an application for probate is filed with the High Court, which means anyone may look at a will or ask for a copy.Oct 10, 2021

How do you find a will when someone dies?

How to find a willSearch the house. It sounds obvious, but the first place you should look is at the deceased's home, as many people store their will (or a copy of it) in their home. ... Ask their solicitor. ... Ask their bank. ... Carry out a will search.Dec 9, 2019

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.

Can you see someone's will?

After an individual has passed away, the executor who is the person or people who have been appointed in the will to administer the estate is the only person entitled to see the will and read its contents.May 29, 2020

Who contacts beneficiaries of a will?

executorHelen: If someone has left a will and you are a beneficiary of an estate, you would usually be contacted by the executor, or the solicitor the executor has instructed, to notify you that you are a beneficiary.Jun 25, 2021

Is a will a public document?

In general, a will is a private document unless and until a grant of probate is issued. Once a grant of probate has been issued, a will becomes a public document and anyone can apply to have a copy.Jul 29, 2019

How long is probate taking at the moment?

After swearing an oath, the Grant Of Probate will be received by the probate registry in 3-4 weeks. After that, the process will take between 6 months to a year, with 9 months being the average length of time it takes to complete the process.Mar 1, 2022

Where can I find free probate records online?

You would go to the county government's website and search by name of the deceased. You may also be able to search by the court docket or attorney. You can also use the case number to search probate cases if you have it. Once you find the case record, you can look up the details.

Are wills in Canada public record?

If the executor has filed for probate, the will is a matter of public record and can be searched at the proper courthouse.

How long after someone dies is the will read in Canada?

The executor should notify beneficiaries within three months after the Will has been filed in probate court. Usually it takes less time than that: we've seen it happen in one to two months in many cases.Sep 16, 2021

Can you request to see a will?

There is no specific legal requirement for an executor to disclose a will or its terms to anyone who asks for this. However a beneficiary can ask for a copy of the will. If a beneficiary asks to see the will and the executor refuses, they can choose to instruct a solicitor, who can make a formal request for this.Aug 23, 2021