When a parent passes away it is often an emotionally hard time for a Fayetteville area resident. Even if the death was expected it can be hard to have to both mourn the loss of a parent and deal with their estate. If a person believes that their parent had a will but can’t find it, this can lead to an even more stressful situation.
There are certain things a person should do if they can’t find their parent’s will. These include:
- Search their parent’s home. There are several obscure places a person may use to store their will. These may include in the filing cabinet, underneath a mattress, tucked in a bookshelf, in the car’s trunk or glove compartment, in the freezer, in closets, etc.
- Loom for business cards of attorneys, financial advisers, insurance agents, etc. These people may know if a person has a will and where it can be found.
- Check a safe deposit box. Many people maintain a safe deposit box at a local bank. It often makes sense that a person would store their will in the safe deposit box.
- Talk with friends. Many times, a person shares with their friends’ details about their will. A parent’s friend may know where the will is stored or the name of their attorney.
Professional help
A legal professional who is skilled in estate planning can help their client with their probate needs. Whether a will is found or not, an attorney can help with what’s next in settling a person’s estate in the most timely and efficient manner.