How do you find out if your Father left a will in the state of Florida?

Answer 1

If you want to know if a person who died left a Will so that the estate can be probated, then the following information is addressed to that question.

If you know the attorney who represented the decedent in life, you could begin by asking their attorney.

If that information is not known, then you have a common problem. The first task would be to check to see if the will was filed in the local probate court. Next, ask relatives, friends and neighbors if the decedent ever mentioned a will or attorney, or ever recommended an attorney by name. If no one remembers the decedent ever mentioning a will or an attorney, that doesn't mean there is no Will. Many people keep that information private. However, you will need to start thinking and searching. If you cannot find any will, then you will need to file for an Administration of the estate.

At the link below you can read an article about finding lost Wills written by a Texas attorney. He mentions some places to look that the average person wouldn't think of and offers some very good advice. Once you read his advice, you may think of other places to look that may be particular to the decedent.

On the other hand, if you want to know how to find out if a deceased person's estate was probated, and if they had a Will, the first place to check is at the probate court in the jurisdiction where they last lived. Any estate filed for a probate proceeding becomes public information. You may be able to call the probate court and ask them to check their index of names. If they won't do it for you, then you can go to the court and check the index yourself. If you find their name in the probate index, you can request and then read through the file.

Keep in mind that if the decedent owned real estate, the estate must be probated in order for the title to pass to the heirs. If there was no real estate, there is a possibility that the estate was never probated. In that case, even if there was a Will, you won't have access to it unless some family member has possession of it and will let you read it.

Answer 2

Unless he told someone where it was - or had an attorney keep a copy on file in their office, you may never know. Check his desk - filing cabinets - home safe (if he had one) or his bank safe deposit box. If the will was found and presented for probate, the local probate court should have a record of it. If no will was ever found or presented to the court he will be declared to have died "intestate" and the state will step in and apportion the estate.

Answer 3

Contact the probate court in the county where he lived. If you are a beneficiary, the estate is required to notify you. If no one has opened an estate, that would be the next thing to do.