How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will: 5 Quick Checks

How to find out if someone has a will comes down to five quick checks after the person dies: ask the named executor and closest family, call any attorney who handled their legal affairs, ask the probate court in the county where they lived, search The U.S. Will Registry by name, and check for a safe deposit box. Any one of these can confirm that a will exists, often within days and before anyone has the document in hand.

This guide answers one question: is there a will? It covers who to contact, exactly what to ask, what you have a right to know, and what to do once you have the answer. If you already know a will exists and need to locate it, see how to find a will. If you only have clues so far, see the signs covered in how to find out if a will exists.

5 Checks to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

Work through these in order. The first checks are the fastest and most often produce a definite answer.

1) Ask the Named Executor and Closest Family

People usually tell their executor, spouse, or an adult child that they made a will, even if they never said where it is kept.

• Who to ask: the surviving spouse, adult children, anyone likely named as executor or trustee, and close friends or caregivers.
• What to ask: Did they ever say they had a will? Did they name an executor? Did they mention an attorney or where important papers are kept?
• Why it works: Executors often already hold the original will or a copy, which answers the question immediately.

2) Call Any Attorney Who Handled Their Legal Affairs

If the person worked with an estate planning attorney, that office can usually confirm whether it prepared a will and often holds the original. Not every will is drafted by an attorney, since many are made with online will programs, so skip this check if there was no attorney.

• How to identify the attorney: Look for legal invoices, letters, checks to a law firm, or estate planning binders. An accountant or financial advisor may also know. See how to find the attorney who wrote a will.
• What to ask: Did your firm prepare a will for this person? Do you hold the original? If not, where was it delivered?
• What to have ready: a copy of the death certificate and proof of your relationship or role. Some firms will only share details with the executor.
• If the attorney retired or died: their files usually transferred to another firm. See how to find a will when the attorney retired or died.

3) Ask the Probate Court in the County Where They Lived

The probate court can tell you whether a will has already reached it. Use the county where the person lived at the time of death, which is not always where they died.

• Ask two questions: Has an estate been opened in this person’s name? Has a will been filed or deposited, even if no estate case exists yet?
• Why the second question matters: In most states, whoever holds the original will must deliver it to the court or the executor after learning of the death, and some courts accept wills for safekeeping. A will can be on file before probate starts.
• How to ask: Search the court’s online case records by name, or call the probate clerk. See how to find out if a will was filed.

4) Search The U.S. Will Registry by Name

Many people register their will so their family can find out it exists after they die. Since 1997, attorneys and the public have registered wills with The U.S. Will Registry at no cost, recording where the original is stored. Registered wills include wills drafted by attorneys and wills made with online will programs.

• What a match tells you: that a will was made and where it is kept, such as with an attorney, the executor, or another named person.
• Why it matters: A registry search can confirm a will that has never been filed with any court.
• Guidance either way: Once a search is performed, every search includes valuable guidance on how to proceed whether or not a will is found. Many families who prefer not to get guidance from an attorney find these guidelines extremely helpful.

FIND OUT IF THERE IS A WILL
The U.S. Will Registry, Established 1997

For other online search options, see how to look up a will online.

5) Check for a Safe Deposit Box

A key, a bank statement showing a box rental fee, or a note in the person’s records can point to a safe deposit box, a common place to keep an original will. State law and bank policy decide who can look inside. See how to access a will in a safe deposit box after death.

Can You Find Out If Someone Has a Will Before They Die?

Generally, no. A will is a private document while the person is alive. No court or public record will confirm it, and attorneys keep it confidential. The only reliable way is to ask the person directly, or ask them to tell a trusted family member or the executor where it is kept.

Do You Have a Right to Know If There Is a Will?

After a death, the law pushes a will into the open rather than letting it stay hidden.

• Once it is filed: a will submitted to probate usually becomes public record, so anyone can request a copy from the clerk.
• Beneficiaries and heirs: once probate opens, the executor is typically required to notify beneficiaries, and in many states legal heirs receive notice as well. See how to find out if you are a beneficiary of a will.
• Before it is filed: there is generally no public copy, and access depends on who holds it. See do wills need to be filed with court.

What to Do Once You Know the Answer

• Yes, there is a will, and you have it: see what to do after you find a will.
• Yes, there is a will, but no one can find it: see my parent said they had a will, but we cannot find it.
• No will after all five checks: state law decides who inherits. See died without a will: what it means and what to do next.

FAQ: How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

How do you find out if someone has a will after they die?

Ask the executor and close family, call their attorney if they had one, ask the probate court in the county where they lived whether a will was filed, search The U.S. Will Registry, and check for a safe deposit box. One confirmed answer from any of these is enough to know a will exists.

Can I find out if someone has a will without a lawyer?

Yes. Family members can contact the probate clerk, search The U.S. Will Registry, and check the person’s papers themselves. An attorney is usually only needed once probate begins or if there is a dispute.

How long does it take to find out if there is a will?

Often only a few days. Calls to the executor, any attorney, and the probate clerk, plus a registry search, can usually be done within a week. Locating the original document can take longer.

Can I check if someone has a will for free?

Many probate court case searches are free, and asking family or the attorney costs nothing. For every free method, see how to find a will online free.

Last updated: November 2, 2026