How to Find a Will After Someone Dies

What to know, where to look, and what it means if you come up empty.

When someone dies, there’s often a moment when the grief gives way, at least temporarily, to responsibility. Maybe it’s when you’re asked to help with their affairs. Maybe it’s when the funeral ends, and everyone turns to you with questions.

And one of the first ones is usually: Did they have a will? And if so, where is it?

It’s a simple question with the potential to save months or cause them. Because when a will is in place and accessible, it can ease confusion, minimize court involvement, and prevent conflict. But when a will is missing or hard to find, it can leave families scrambling in an already disorienting time.

So if you're wondering how to find a will after someone dies, you're not alone. This is one of the most common and urgent challenges during estate settlement.

Wills Don’t Always Live Where You Think

Many people assume a will is filed with the court or stored in a clearly labeled folder. But often, they’re tucked away in surprisingly mundane places: a desk drawer, a bookshelf, a safe that no one knows the combination to or a backpack in a binder hidden under your childhood bed. Some are with attorneys, others in digital vaults or cloud accounts. And sometimes, they’re lost entirely drafted years ago and never printed, or placed somewhere “safe” and never found again.

If you’re looking for a will, it helps to think like the person who wrote it. Did they handle their own paperwork? Rely on professionals? Use online tools? Were they private, organized, sentimental? Each of these can shape how and where they stored something as important as a last will and testament.

Who Might Know And Who Might Not

It’s tempting to assume that someone close to the deceased like a spouse or child automatically knows about the will. But people don’t always share these details, even with family. The person they trusted with their will might be a sibling, a friend, a financial advisor, or an attorney you’ve never met.

That’s why finding a will isn’t just about where it is. It’s also about who was told it existed and whether they were informed where to find it. And sometimes, no one was. That doesn’t mean it’s gone. It just means it wasn’t well-communicated, which is more common than you’d think.

What to Do If You Can’t Find the Will

If you’ve searched thoroughly and still can’t locate a will, here’s what to consider:

1. Double-Check for Digital Clues

Some people use online will services but never print out the final version. Look through:

• Emails for confirmation from companies like LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, or Trust & Will

• Cloud folders or shared drives

• Notes apps or scanned PDFs on their devices

2. Check the Probate Court

In some states, people file their will with the local probate court while alive. Call the court in the county where the person lived to ask if anything is on file.

3. Proceed as an Intestate Estate

If no will is found, the estate is considered intestate, and assets will be distributed according to your state’s laws:

• Usually prioritizing spouses, children, and parents

• Requiring a court-appointed administrator instead of an executor

• Possibly excluding non-relatives, stepchildren, or unmarried partners

An attorney can help guide you through the process of settling an estate without a will.

Is the Will You Found the Real One?

Even when you do locate a will, questions can arise: Is this the final version? Was it legally signed and witnessed? Is it valid in this state?

Wills don’t always come with a certificate of authenticity. Some are handwritten, some are outdated, and some were created online and never properly executed. That’s why it’s a good idea to have any discovered will reviewed by an estate lawyer or by a platform that can walk you through next steps based on your location and circumstances.

Final Thought

Finding a will after someone dies can feel like detective work wrapped in grief. It’s rarely as simple as opening a folder and sometimes it doesn’t end with an answer. But whether you uncover a signed legal document, a half-finished draft, or nothing at all, you’re doing something important: showing up, sorting through, and trying to honor someone’s life with care.

The truth is, the best time to find a will is while someone is still alive and the second-best time is now.

End of an Era gives you structured support in a deeply unstructured time. So you don’t have to do this alone. Sign up now to get help navigating the first steps of estate settlement.