Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois
Should siblings be given a copy of will prior to death?
3 Answers from Attorneys
There is no legal requirement for such, however, the person who's Will it is may want to consider doing that particularly if there is no spouse or if there is something unique about the terms of the Will. Obviously, the Executor should be informed as to the whereabouts of the original.
A will is a private document belonging to the owner. That person can choose to share its contents, but can also elect to keep it secret. The important things is that the will be available when the person passes.
This question can be answered by analyzing the family dynamic. If someone is going to receive less than anticipated, would knowledge of this fact make the current relationship more difficult? Would knowing now make it less problematic for the siblings to deal with the issue after the testator dies? What if the testator changes his or her mind? The testator should do what seems best in the context of the testator's lifetime relationships and in the context of the disposition at death.