Due to failing health, my grandmother is now searching for information that will be necessary in the event of her brother’s death. Due to a combination of mental illness and family strife, everyone who would be in a position to know anything hasn’t been told where documents are kept, doesn’t have access to bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, and other personal information. But as a side effect, we don’t even know where the poor man’s living will might be kept! What if it’s in a safety deposit box that he can no longer tell us that he has? Who’s to know? Grandma’s been in their home, but hasn’t found anything yet.
We want to find his lawyer; we at least assume that he’s hired one at some point to notarize documents, etc. How would we be able to find out who that person is? Would confidentiality even permit a lawyer to say something in the event that a person, not his client, asks such a thing? Assume that my great-uncle will never be able to communicate meaningfully again, and that there’s not a family member who knows. Where do we start?
Did your great uncle have a wife who predeceased him? If he did, you can go to the clerk’s office in the county her will was probated in and see who prepared or probated it.
I don’t know if you can do this before someone dies, but my bar newsletter always has a section called “Will Searches” that lists families that are searching for the lawyers of their loved ones.
just a wild idea:
can you look at his old checkbook stubs? Maybe even get the bank to send you the microfilms they supposedly archive somewhere .**
Maybe you can find a check made out to a law office.
**(No, I have no idea how much this costs or even if it’s doable. Oops, I just realized this is GQ, not IMHO. I can only offer an idea–, no facts to back it up. Sorry).
You’ll probably need a Power of Attorney (or the US equivalent).
Thanks for replies so far.
No, the wife is still alive, but in poor mental health. She understands that her husband is on his deathbed, but as it was related to me, she knows nothing more. I’ve advised my family to contact the bar association about a will search notice, and that they should attempt to get power of attorney, per the advice above. Thanks to all, but any further information will still be very useful.
If he’s no longer able to give someone power of attorney it can be obtained by court order.