Not every deceased person has planned for their exit from this earth, and so being the person to clean up the estate business when someone has gone is often not a very enviable job. If there is a known will, and everything is outlined, things are smooth and there is no trouble. But very often, a person has not communicated the details of their wishes for their estate to anyone, from a legal institution to a family member or friend. So how do you find out if there was one?
- Step One: Start by calling the probate court of the county in which the deceased person was a resident. If there was a will on file, it would have been made public record, and they would be able to give you a copy, for a fee. A lawyer, or legal services representative could also look it up for you. If not, then you can move on to the next possibility.
- Step Two: If no will was on file, there is a possibility that they didn't make one. Explore this idea by checking back with that local court to find out whether or not the estate in question went into 'intestate succession,' which basically means that all the assets have been put under subjection to the court's directive, to pass on to the beneficiary according to the laws of the land.
- Step Three: Once you have looked into both of these possibilities, it is time to consider the last option. At times, someone can avoid probate court by putting all their assets in a living trust, or in other options like insurance and retirement/pension policies.
Finding out the details doesn't have to be a miry task. Legal advice is all over the web, and those friendly clerks in the court offices may have helpful hints to steer you into the right places. Take a breath and move on - it's a new day!
