- 1). Call your loved one's attorney and/or executor of the estate, if it is not you. One or both of these parties should have a copy of the will, if one was made. If you are unsure whether there is an attorney, look for a bill or card in your loved one's paperwork, or call local attorneys to inquire about the presence of a will.
- 2). Call the local probate court to see if the will was ever registered there by your loved one or an attorney. In many counties, this is now not done until after a death, but it should only take a few minutes to ask.
- 3). Search the house thoroughly. Start with obvious places, such as a firebox, filing cabinet or safe. Many older people--especially those who went through the Great Depression--often keep important papers and money hidden "for a rainy day." Search under mattresses, in cubbyholes, desks, drawers, boxes, and even closed books.
- 4). Review the contents of a safe deposit box with your loved one's bank. The bank should only allow this with the estate's executor, and may need to supervise the contents as they are looked over to make sure nothing is taken.
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