Tracking an Inheritance

At times a decedent may pass without leaving information about the location of important documents related to the will. If the occurs, you may want to work with a Kingwood  probate lawyer to assist with tracking the inheritance.

Why Would This Happen?

We all lead busy lives and often what may seem minor details are left unfinished. A person may, for instance, never get around to signing his will. In other cases, such details about the decedent as the location of his residence, named attorney, accountant, and/or executor may not be readily evident. When a person dies, his family may therefore be left having to search for these details in order to proceed with probate.

Searching for Inheritance Information

If you are an executor or beneficiary, you may need to do a bit of detective work to find the documents and individuals necessary for completing the probate process. Most counties allow residents to record and file their wills with the probate court. The county may also have a database through which you can search for important information. Of course, in order to accomplish such a search it is necessary to know what county the decedent lived in. For most testators, or creators of wills, this should not be a problem. However, some people lead very solitary, isolated lives, which can make the locating of inheritance documents problematic.

Other Information Sources

The executor, if one is named, should have a good idea where the decedent lived. Also, you may be able to obtain useful information from friends and family of the decedent. If you know who the decedent's attorney is, that would be a good place to start. If not, there may be business associates who can help.

Publishing a notice in the local newspaper may be helpful as well. Indeed, this is required in most jurisdictions when the probate is in process. You might also consider searching the Internet. The decedent may have a website that provides useful information. If the jurisdiction has an office of abandoned property, that may be another place to search.

The Key Is Awareness

It should be evident that it is very important for testators to keep documents in order and in an obvious place. Make sure to let at least one other trusted individual know where you keep this information. Working with a Kingwood  probate lawyer can prove very helpful in this regard. Call Peterson Law Group to arrange a consultation at 281-609-0664 or 832-786-5062.