If someone dies, it’s hard to know where their will was kept or whether they had one. More so if they died unexpectedly. Also, you might want to get the will when the executor is not in a position of sharing the details with you. Perhaps you want to challenge them in court.

However, if you want to find out whether someone has a will, here are ways to do that:

1. Search the House

The first port of call to do is checking the deceased home. Although this sounds obvious, many people keep safe their will (or a copy) in their homes. If you are aware of a safe inside the deceased house or can secure locked drawers where they store their paperwork, this might be the sensible area to start with,

Other places to search include cupboards, drawers, or in the master bedroom. But it’s advisable to request an agreement with the deceased family to search the house to get rid of trespass allegations that might arise.

2. Ask their Solicitor

When the deceased worked with a solicitor or any other profession to write the will, then you can use this profession as he might be having the will. You can get in touch with a ring of solicitors if you can’t trace the exact person that they used.

3. Ask their Bank

Many times banks store essential documents such as wills and title deeds on behalf of individuals. When you are an executor of the estate, make sure you request the deceased bank whether they have a copy of the will. If the bank agrees, ensure you request a copy from them. But the bank will ask for a death certificate to serve as an identification proof before they submit the will’s copy to you.

4. Perform a Will Search

Many companies can help you perform searches to find missing wills. They do this by searching through will writers and wills kept by solicitors all over the country. A city like London does this.

Also, solicitors carry out specific searches in areas close to the deceased home.

Also, they search the will on the National Wills Register, but nowadays, it’s not a must to register your will on a database. These companies will charge you a small fee to carry out the task.

How to Find a Will on the Public Records

Immediately a will becomes part of the public record, and it’s easy to get a copy on the courthouse locally where it was initially filled. To locate a will on public records:

  • Move to the local courthouse in person.
  • After that, give the clerk having the details of the deceased (name, date, and place of death). But if you can’t remember the date of death, ensure you provide a copy of the death certificate.
  • After that, the clerk will provide you with a case number that may be required to check on the probate records that include the will. Based on the court and how old the will you are looking for is, you can request to check on the digitized documents, microfilm, and original paper files using the courthouse’s viewing equipment. The clerk will guide you.
  • Pay some fee to receive a copy of the will. Many courthouses charge the fees per page. Furthermore, if you can’t go to court personally, make sure you submit a written letter in the form of a fax or mail requesting the will from the court.

However, when a person dies without a will, then their estate is declared as intestate. The judge will choose a different person to take care of the estate, providing them with an administration letter as proof.

How do I track down a will?

How to Find a Will
  1. Search 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.
  2. Ask their solicitor.
  3. Ask their bank.
  4. Carry out a Will search.

Are wills public record UK?

After probate is granted

Once a grant of probate has been issued, a will becomes a public document and anyone can apply to have a copy. The Gov.UK website provides information about searching for probate records, either online or by post.

Can I see someones will?

If the will is being held by a solicitor, you will only be able to see it if you’ve been named as an executor. However, a grant of probate is often needed before anyone can start settling the estate – once the grant is applied for, a copy of the will is stored by the government and can be seen by anyone who applies.

Can a beneficiary ask to see bank statements?

As a beneficiary you are entitled to information regarding the trust assets and the status of the trust administration from the trustee. You are entitled to bank statements, receipts, invoices and any other information related to the trust. Be sure to ask for information in writing. The request should be in writing.

Who can view a will after death?

Immediately after death

After the death, but before probate is granted, the only people with a right to see the will are the executors named in it. At their discretion, they can show it to anyone else.

How long after death is a will executed?

Generally, three to nine months are given, depending on the state’s laws, for claims to be made. The estate is then given a chance to consider whether or not a claim should be paid. If a decision cannot be made, a court will intervene. If the courts intervene, additional inheritance delays will occur.

Is Probate needed if there is a will?

If There is a Valid Will

Whether or not there’s a legally valid Will has no bearing on whether Probate is required. Probate is not required exclusively on Estates where the person died Intestate (meaning without a Will). In fact, Probate is required on a lot of Estates where there is a Will.

How long after a person dies will beneficiaries be notified?

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.

How do you know if someone left you money after death?

If a loved one has died and you are the rightful heir, you should search to see whether there is unclaimed money or property in their name. You can do an almost-nationwide search at the free website www.missingmoney.com. You can choose to search a single state or all states that participate.

Do I have a right to see my father’s will?

Neither you nor your brother have an inherent right to see your father’s will until he has passed away and it is lodged with the probate court. When that happens, your father’s will becomes a public record that anyone can see. If your father created a trust to avoid probate, it’s even more private.

What happens to your bank account if you die without a will?

If someone dies without a will, the money in his or her bank account will still pass to the named beneficiary or POD for the account. The executor has to use the funds in the account to pay any of the estate’s creditors and then distributes the money according to local inheritance laws.

Who you should never name as your beneficiary?

Whom should I not name as beneficiary? Minors, disabled people and, in certain cases, your estate or spouse. Avoid leaving assets to minors outright. If you do, a court will appoint someone to look after the funds, a cumbersome and often expensive process.

What happens to a person’s bank account when they die?

When someone dies, their bank accounts are closed. Any money left in the account is granted to the beneficiary they named on the account. Any credit card debt or personal loan debt is paid from the deceased’s bank accounts before the account administrator takes control of any assets.

Who inherits money if no will?

Generally, only spouses, registered domestic partners, and blood relatives inherit under intestate succession laws; unmarried partners, friends, and charities get nothing. If the deceased person was married, the surviving spouse usually gets the largest share.

Who is legally classed as next of kin?

The term usually means your nearest blood relative. In the case of a married couple or a civil partnership it usually means their husband or wife. Next of kin is a title that can be given, by you, to anyone from your partner to blood relatives and even friends.

How do banks find out someone has died?

The main way a bank finds out that someone has died is when the family notifies the institution. Anyone can notify a bank about a person’s death if they have the proper paperwork. But usually, this responsibility falls on the person’s next of kin or estate representative.

Is the eldest child next of kin?

Is the Eldest Child Next of Kin? However, this is not the case and the eldest child of a deceased person will not automatically be given the role.