More details to this question:
I was 10 years old when my father died, and I remember him telling me that he made a will.He told me should anything happen to him (referring to his death), I should ask my god-father. He said that my god-father would take care of me in an event of his death. Now I will be 21 years old on the 19th of March 2016. Please help me recover his will. I don't have parents.
8 ANSWERS
Check with the probate court in the county in which your father lived at the time of his death. It may still have records of the settlement of your father's estate. Also, your godfather should have a copy of the will along with other documents that named him as your guardian.
Answered on Aug 20th, 2015 at 9:38 AM
Edwin K. Niles
If the will was offered for probate, go to the court where he died and index his name and then review the court file. If not, search his effects.
Answered on Aug 19th, 2015 at 4:33 PM
Appellate Attorney serving Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
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Musilli Brennan Associates, PLLC
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If there was a well and there were assets, then there would of had to been a probate estate opened in the county where your father resided when he died. Check the local probate court records to see whether or not an estate was opened in your father's name.
Answered on Aug 19th, 2015 at 1:57 PM
Commercial Attorney serving Chicago, IL
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Ashcraft & Ashcraft, Ltd.
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If your father had a will it should have been filed with the clerk of the circuit court in his home county at the time of his death. You could search the public record in that county to see if a will was filed. You could also search the public record to see if a probate case was opened and how your father's assets were distributed after his death.
Answered on Aug 19th, 2015 at 1:53 PM
You can visit the District Court clerk's office for the county your father was living in when he died to see if a probate estate was filed.
Answered on Aug 19th, 2015 at 1:41 PM
Thomas Edward Gates
Check to see if it was filed with the court to start probate.
Answered on Aug 19th, 2015 at 1:24 PM
Probate Attorney serving Newport, OR
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Minor, Bandonis & Haggerty P.C.
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If your father's will was submitted to the court for probate, you could go to the county courthouse in the county where he lived, and review the probate file. That would at least tell you what went on back in the day, and give you clues to follow regarding any amounts that should be held for your benefit, and by whom. If it was never submitted to probate, then I don't know what you could do. The will might be the basis for some lawsuit against somebody. I wouldn't wait until I was 21, though; if your father's will left money to you, but did not specifically allow the use of a UTMA account, you might have been entitled to the money when you turned 18. In other cases, too, an applicable statute of limitations might have started running when you turned 18. So don't delay.
Answered on Aug 19th, 2015 at 1:23 PM
3 Awards
Did you contact your godfather? I would start there. Next step if that is not helpful would be to contact the county clerk where your father lived to see if a Will has been lodged for either of your parents. This is opinion is solely based upon the facts presented in the inquiry. Additional facts may be important and may change the analysis. If you are uncertain, seek legal counsel.
Answered on Aug 19th, 2015 at 1:05 PM