When a Fort Lauderdale area resident’s parent passes away it can be an emotional time. Besides dealing with the grief that comes with a death of a family member, there can also be important legal matters to attend to. Settling a loved one’s estate is one such matter that needs to be addressed. Usually, a person has had a will created but what happens if you can’t find the will?
When a person can’t find their parent’s will there are certain steps they should take:
- Check their home. Most of the time the will is somewhere within the deceased’s home. They should check obvious places like filing cabinets, bookshelves, safes, desks, etc. They should also check less obvious places like in a car’s trunk or glove box, under a mattress, or in a closet. While looking for a will they should also try and find the key for a safe deposit box where the will could also be located. If the deceased had a storage unit, the will may also be located there.
- Law firm or financial planner. While searching a loved one’s home a person should also look for any letterhead or business cards for attorneys, financial planners, accountants, or other professional. These people may have a copy of the will or know where the will can be found.
- Friends of deceased. It can be a good idea to talk to a parent’s friends to see if they mentioned who their attorney was or if they know where the will was stored.
A legal professional who is skilled in estate administration can help their client through the probate and estate administering process. They understand that this can be complex and time-consuming, and they can help their client through the next steps and the timeline.
