Find a will online by checking the probate court website for the county of the residence of the deceased person (decedent). You can also utilize The U.S. Will Registry and other national registries during your search. Keep in mind that a will becomes a part of the public record once filed for probate, which allows you to order copies of it online.
Talk with a wills and trusts lawyer in Boca Raton if you want to find the will of a deceased person online. Your attorney can search for the original will, which may be held by the attorney who drafted it. If warranted, they will help you move through the probate process for a will smoothly, efficiently, and in alignment with state law.
How to Find a Will of a Deceased Person Online in Florida
To find a will in Florida online, search the probate court docket on the Clerk of Court website for the county where the deceased person lived. Use the decedent’s name or case number to look for “wills or deposits” or probate cases.
Florida courts sometimes don’t post full document images of a will on the internet. If this is the case when you search for a deceased individual’s will online, you can request a copy of the document in person or by mail from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the decedent resided.
Speak with a wills and trusts attorney if you can’t track down the will of a deceased person online. Your lawyer can provide insights into how probate works in Florida and other topics relating to the specifics of your online search for a deceased person’s will. Plus, they can help you search online and offline for this document.
For a free legal consultation, call 561-955-8515
Factors to Consider as You Try to Find the Will of a Deceased Person on the Internet
Get a lawyer on your side who is familiar with probate and what it will take to locate the will of a deceased person online without delay. Your attorney will account for various factors as they help you search for a decedent’s will on the internet, such as:
- Court probate records: The probate court in the county where the deceased resided is the primary source for finding a filed will.
- The deceased person’s “official” county: If the deceased owned property in multiple places, their will should be filed in the county of their permanent residence.
- Timing of filing: In Florida, a will is a public record after a person passes away and the document is filed for probate. Per Florida Statute § 732.901, the custodian of an original will must deposit it with the clerk of the court in the county where the decedent resided within 10 days of learning of the testator’s death.
- Online search methods: In many instances, you can utilize the online case search system for the county’s Clerk of Court using the decedent’s full name to look up a decedent’s will online.
- Online will registry services: These services can show you if a decedent registered the location of their will.
In addition to these things, you can go through a decedent’s email, cloud storage, and computer files. Look for documents labeled “will,” “trust,” or “estate plan” to improve your chances of finding the decedent’s will.
What to Do if You Can’t Find a Will Online
Those who cannot find a will online in Florida should check the probate court records in the county of the deceased’s last residence, their home, and their safe deposit box, and contact their attorney. If the original will remains lost, you may need to begin intestate probate. Or, if a copy exists, you can initiate lost will proceedings, which may require witness testimony.
Get legal help if you can’t locate a will online. Empathetic and compassionate wills and trusts lawyers will handle your legal matters with care. They will address your probate and trust administration questions and concerns and help you find a deceased person’s will promptly.
Wills and trusts attorneys can reach out to a decedent’s estate planning lawyer if their will can’t be found online. Depending on the circumstances of your situation, your lawyer may search a decedent’s home or safe deposit box via a court order. Alternatively, they could file a “Petition of Probate of a Lost Will” to admit a copy of a will.
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Learn More About What to Do to Find a Will of a Decedent Online
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a decedent’s will on the internet. As you search for this will, it’s easy to get frustrated along the way. Thankfully, you don’t have to conduct your search alone, as wills and trusts lawyers will assist you in any way they can.
The Siegel Law Group, P.A., has proudly served South Florida residents for over 22 years. We know how emotionally taxing it is to search for a family member’s will online. If you’re struggling to locate the will of a deceased loved one, we are here to help. For more information, request a free consultation.
Call or text 561-955-8515 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form