How Do You Find Out if You Were in Someone’s Will?

Photo by Melinda Gimpel on Unsplash
Question:
How do you find out if you were in someone’s will?
Response:
After someone has died, anyone holding their original will is required to record it at the appropriate probate court, the one that covers the town where the individual lived at the time of death. So, you can go to that court to see if a will has been recorded and what it says. Some courts also have online access.
Be aware that these days, property often passes other than as directed in the will. Any accounts that are jointly owned will go to the other owner or owners. Accounts with named beneficiaries will go to those beneficiaries. And anything in trust will go as directed in the trust. All of that may well be private with no way of finding out where the property goes.
Related Articles:
What is Probate Property and What Isn’t?
Where Should You Store your Estate Planning Documents?
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