Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Nevada
Searching for a will
My father passed away in November 2001. I have had no contact with him for many years by his choice. I found out he passed away on the internet after my mother died. How can I go about finding out if he had a will and review it? He was remarried and his wife is still alive. He was retired from the military and also retired from the US Government.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Searching for a will
How is your relationship with your step-mother? If you can amicably contact her and discuss your father's wishes, she would likely be the best source of information. If you had fallen out of contact with her, and she did not know where to reach you, a simple call or letter might alert her that you know of Dad's death and need to know if he wanted to provide something for you.
If you know in which county of Nevada your father died, you can check with the Clerk of the Court for that county to see if a probate was opened (e.g., the will was filed with the court). If it was, the entire file is a public record, and you can access the will to see what his wishes were. If you are named in it, and the probate has already been settled (possible in the 7 months since his death) without you receiving your intended inheritance, you may be able to re-open the probate to ensure you are not left out.
If you do not feel capable of doing this on your own, I would recommend retaining an attorney in the county where Dad died to do this investigation and pursue any claim you might have on the estate. The State Bar of Nevada has a referral number by which you may be able to find counsel in the appropriate county - 800-789-5747. If it was in Washoe County (Reno area), my firm may be able to assist you.
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