A missing or lost will can present many different questions and concerns for loved ones and other family members after someone passes away. Sadly, many family members find themselves in this position if you can’t locate the documents or your loved one didn’t share these details in advance with you.
If you’re convinced that your family member had undertaken steps for estate planning, but you cannot find the material proving this, there are a couple of different things you can do.
First, you may be able to contact a probate court lawyer in Pasadena to help you if this was where your loved ones lived. If you know that your family member had an established relationship with an estate planning attorney, this is also a good place to communicate as that lawyer may have done the estate plan and may have filed it in their office.
You may also look in any filing cabinets or other locations in the deceased home where important documents were kept. Communicate with close friends and family of the deceased, see if you can find details on any safety deposit boxes if you have access to it, and communicate with any other attorneys, CPAs, or key individuals who may be able to refer you to the name of an attorney who could have helped. You may also be able to publish a notice in a legal newspaper or ask for assistance from a local attorney to help guide you through this process.
It can be overwhelming to think about all of the different steps involved in probate administration, but taking your next steps now by completing your own estate plan could minimize the possibility that your loved ones face these same challenges in the future. Communicate with our Pasadena estate planning lawyers to learn more.
