How to Get a Copy of the Last Will If I'm a Beneficiary
A will is a legal document used to enforce the wishes of a person after his death. If you believe that you are a beneficiary in a will, you must obtain the will to get access to your inheritance. Often when a person makes a will he notifies beneficiaries of their status, providing information about location of the will. Some, however, withhold such information to prevent beneficiaries from inquiring about or taking issue with specifics of the will.
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Instructions
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Look for the will in the person's home -- a place where many keep copies of their wills. Search obvious places such as stacks of papers and desk and dresser drawers. Make sure to search less likely hiding spots such as mattresses, auto glove compartments, pockets of clothing and pages of books.
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Contact the attorney who prepared the will. If you are unsure of the attorney's name, look for the attorney's card or business information in the home of the deceased as you search for the will document.
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Ask friends and family members if they know where the will is, or what lawyer may have prepared it. The person's accountant or financial advisor may also know who the person's attorney was.
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Check the deceased's bank to determine whether he kept a safe deposit box. It could hold the will. Ask the bank manager what procedure must be followed to access the safe deposit box of a deceased individual. Often only the decedent's spouse or close relative can access a safe deposit box.
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Contact the probate division of the county courthouse and ask whether the will was filed there. Check the court located in the county where the deceased person lived before she died. If she lived in several counties, check in each county court. If she filed the will, the court will provide a copy for a fee.
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Call lawyers around town and ask each if he prepared the will. In larger cities, concentrate on estate lawyers or those that advertise will preparation services.
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