Things You'll Need:
- Paper Pen Name and address of deceased person Telephone Book
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Step 1
Identify the full name of the deceased person whose will you seek to obtain. In addition, obtain their last known address. You may review telephone directories, public property records and/or simply ask the family or friends of the deceased person, if known.
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Step 2
Determine the name of the court in the jurisdiction where the deceased resided. This is based upon the residential address of the deceased. In order to determine the appropriate court where a will may be filed, check with your local library, yellow pages or an attorney in the area.
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Step 3
Contact the appropriate court department which handles trusts and estates. This department is usually known as the clerk, surrogate clerk or probate clerk. Inquire about the procedure to ascertain if there is a will on file for the deceased person. Generally, wills can be accessed either online or by visiting the particular court office and requesting the will. You may have to provide a reason for your request. In any event, be sure to follow the court office's procedure as directed.
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Step 4
Alternatively, contact the family of the deceased to request a copy of the will, if you have a relationship with the family and a legitimate purpose to obtain the will. If you have a specific reason to seek the will, be certain to explain the reason and provide supporting documentation.
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Step 5
If you are unable to obtain a copy of the will through the foregoing steps, consider using a public document search company. There are companies listed online that will research the matter on your behalf for a fee. Fees vary, but the general range is $30 to $150, depending on how extensive you want them to research the matter.
