How to find a Will?

First of all, have you have questioned her friends and/or other family members? If you haven't, do so. If you have but to no avail, contact any other adviser that your mother may have had (e.g. accountant, financial planner, etc) to see if they know something. If there are of no help, be on the look out for a letter or business card from an attorney. If you are successful, contact that person and ask if they drafted a Will for your mother (if the attorney has retired you can contact the state bar association to get their contact information). If you can't locate the lawyer any other way, start calling attorneys in town to see if they drafted a Will for her. You could also place a "Lost Will" ad in the local paper. Also, check with the Probate Court in the county where your mother resided; it is possible that a Will was filed with the Court when it was executed. Additionally, if she had a safety deposit box look there. If that's not successful then go through any papers you can find in file cabinets and desk drawers. Basically look anywhere and everywhere - in the back of the closet, between the pages of a bible, etc.