To find if a will exists online, start by checking available probate records in the county where the deceased lived. You can also search legally accessible digital files for estate planning information, check a national will registry, and contact an attorney who may have prepared the will. If you cannot find a will online, that does not necessarily mean one does not exist.
Several online and offline sources may help you determine whether someone created a will. Because no single source contains every will, it is often necessary to check more than one place.
After someone dies, a will may be filed with the probate court in the county where the person lived. Many courts provide an online case search that allows you to determine whether a probate estate has been opened.
Depending on the court, the online record may show whether a will was filed and provide basic information about the estate. Some courts also make documents available online, while others require you to request copies.
Keep in mind that a will does not necessarily appear in probate records immediately after death. If probate has not started or the will has not been filed, an online court search may produce no results even though a will exists.
For more information about court searches, see How to Find a Will in Probate Court.
Digital records can provide clues that a will was created, even when you cannot find the original document online.
If you are legally authorized to access the deceased person’s email, computer, or cloud storage, search for terms such as:
You may find correspondence with an attorney, a draft of a will, an invoice for estate planning services, or information about where the signed original was stored.
Finding an electronic copy can be helpful, but it may not be the original document required for probate.
If the deceased worked with an estate planning attorney, contact the attorney or law firm.
The attorney may have prepared the will, retained a copy, or have information about where the original was stored.
If you do not know the attorney’s name, look through accessible email, financial records, address books, and other personal records for references to attorneys or law firms.
Accountants and financial advisers may also know whether the deceased worked with an estate planning attorney.
A will registry is another source to check when trying to determine whether a will exists and where it may be located.
The U.S. Will Registry is a nationwide resource that records information about registered wills and trusts. The Registry does not store the actual will.
If a will was registered, the information may help identify:
Not every will is registered. Therefore, finding no registration does not establish that the deceased never created a will.
Some initial searches can be performed for free. Depending on the jurisdiction, you may be able to search probate case information online without charge. You can also review legally accessible email and digital files and contact attorneys or advisers who may have information about the deceased person’s estate planning.
However, free online searches have limitations. There is no nationwide government database containing every will, and a privately held will may not appear in public records until it is submitted to a probate court.
For this reason, an unsuccessful free online search should not be treated as proof that no will exists.
If your online searches do not provide an answer, continue looking in places where the deceased may have kept important documents.
Check likely locations such as:
You can also ask close family members or trusted friends whether the deceased mentioned making a will, meeting with an attorney, or storing estate planning documents in a particular location.
The important point is that not finding a will online is different from establishing that no will exists.
Sometimes there are signs that a will was prepared, but neither the document nor the attorney who prepared it can be located.
For example, family members may remember the deceased discussing a will. You may find correspondence concerning estate planning. An older will may have been located while the family believes a newer one was prepared.
At that point, a broader search may be appropriate.
The U.S. Will Registry Missing Will Search is a paid search service designed for situations in which a family or other authorized person is trying to locate a missing will.
The search checks Registry information that may help identify the location of a registered will. If no matching registration is found, the search process may also include outreach to attorneys in the state where the deceased resided, asking participating law firms to check their records for a will or trust.
To determine whether a will exists, check several sources rather than relying on one search. Review available probate court records, national will registries, legally accessible digital files, and information from attorneys who may have prepared the estate plan. Because no database contains every will, finding no record in one source does not necessarily mean a will does not exist.
Yes. Some searches to determine whether a will exists can be done online for free. Many probate courts provide online case searches, and legally accessible email or digital records may contain evidence of estate planning. However, not every will appears online, and some courts or specialized will-search services may charge fees for records or additional searches.
No. Finding no will online does not mean that a will does not exist. The will may not have been filed with a probate court yet. It may also be held by an attorney, stored with the deceased person’s important papers, or kept in another secure location. Checking several sources is important before concluding that no will exists.
No. Not all wills are available online. A will can remain a private document during the person’s lifetime and may not become part of a public court record until after death and the start of probate. Even then, online access varies by jurisdiction, so the absence of an online record does not establish that no will was created.
No. The U.S. Will Registry does not store the actual will. It records information intended to help identify the existence and location of registered wills and trusts. If information about a will was registered, that information may help family members or other authorized individuals determine where the will or related estate planning information may be located.
There is no single online source that can confirm the existence of every will.
Start with available probate records, legally accessible digital information, known attorneys, and national will registry information. If those sources do not provide an answer, continue with physical records and people who may know whether a will was prepared.
The goal is not simply to search the internet for a copy of the will. Instead, you are looking for information that can establish that a will was created and help you determine where the original document may be located.
If you have completed these steps and still believe a will exists but cannot locate it, a Missing Will Search can provide an additional way to search for information that may lead to the document.
This article provides general educational information and is not legal advice. Probate procedures and laws vary by state.
This article was prepared by estate planning researchers and reviewed by S. Miller and staff. With more than 25 years of experience in estate planning documentation and probate processes, our editorial oversight ensures clarity and accuracy. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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