What Happens If A Will Is Lost?

It can be a difficult situation if a person is not able to find the original or copies of a loved ones will. This column discusses the steps that a person should take when they lose a will to track it down. They should first check to see if the will was admitted into probate or find out of their loved one owned a safety deposit box where they might have stored the document. It is also a good idea to review the checkbook or bank statements of a deceased loved one to see if they ever paid an estate planning attorney. Reaching out to the loved one’s relatives and financial adviser is also a very good idea for a person needing to track down a missing will. If the will is not found then there is a chance that the estate may be distributed in accordance with the intestacy laws of that locality.

See Kyle E. Krull, What If My Client Can’t Find A Loved Ones Will?, Wealth Management, February 2, 2016.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse for bringing this article to my attention.