How can I find out if an attorney has a family members Will without knowing which attorney they had?
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How can I find out if an attorney has a family members Will without knowing which attorney they had?
My uncle died unexpectedly last week and I just found in a message my uncle posted on his social media account from 4 years ago that he had finally finished his Will and set up his life insurance. The life insurance is being handled by his beneficiary luckily, however, his next-of-kin is my father who is not doing right by my uncle as he disowned my uncle and hasn’t spoke to him in years. I went to our county’s probate court and there was nothing on file with them but I know he had different attorney’s for different things and I have a couple attorney contacts of his but one is for only BWC cases and the other was for an eviction. Is there a way to find out if a certain attorney has a Will for him?
Asked on October 8, 2019 under Estate Planning, Ohio
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
There is no cental repository or filing system for unprobated wills: the courts only have them once they are probated. Otherwise, until and unless they are filed, there is no record of them other than what the testator (person making the will) may have left. If your uncle didn't say who had the will, all you can do is call any and every attorney who you can think of.
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