How can I find out what my great-aunt's will says?

March 8, 2010 2:51 PM

How can I find out what my great-aunt's will says?

My great aunt died recently. Her last living relatives were her two nieces; one of them is my mom. The other niece won't talk to me or my mother. I think the aunt left everything to the other niece, but I would like to read the will to make sure. How can I find out what her will says? She was a resident of North Carolina.

posted by Monday to Law & Government (3 answers total)

IANAL. But you should be able to contact the probate court in the county where she lived/died to find out who the executor of her estate is. Hopefully it's not your mom's cousin. The executor should be able to tell you if you and/or your mom were mentioned in the will. If you can't get the executor to tell you, or if the will itself is not on file with the county, then hire a local lawyer to get to the bottom of it.
posted by wwartorff at 3:11 PM on March 8, 2010

A will is a public document and can be requested for examination at the court where it was probated.

For North Carolina in particular, you want the Superior Court.
posted by gabrielsamoza at 3:19 PM on March 8, 2010

Superior Court Probate's Office in that county.
posted by 2legit2quit at 4:33 PM on March 8, 2010