Question on "Will" of deceased.?

Question

My grandmother passed away and has left a Will and a handwritten list indicating the distribution of certain personal items. There are 4 children that have been named as beneficiaries in the Will, one of which is the executer. This is not a probate issue. Do all the beneficiaries have the legal right to see the will and any other documents left behind by the deceased?

Answer 1

I would say that the beneficiaries need to know for sure the contents of the will, and how it impacts them as individuals. If that requires all beneficiaries to physically see the will, then yeah, you could construe that. More than knowing what is on the will, each beneficiary is allowed to obtain the item(s) granted to them within the will, the executor's responsibility is to see to it that this happens, whether the executor physically does the work, or hires it out.

Answer 2

You need to contact someone who is licensed in your grandmother's state to answer this question specifically.

It is not uncommon, however, for a will to incorporate a "finder's list".. This list is a list of small items which they wish to leave to certain people.. and wish to be able to change that list at any time.

In my state, such lists are not only legal, but they are quite common. It is a way of making sure that great-grandson gets the 1970 baseball mitt, etc. The will is worded in such a way that they become, in effect, codicils of the will, without going through the regular codicil procedure.

If that is the case in your state, then you *should* have a right to examine the finders list. At any rate, you should contact a probate attorney where the will is being probated and ask these questions and/or hire them to enter an appearance on your behalf. If you don't know an attorney, contact the local or state bar association in that state for a referral.

Answer 3

Yes, to the will. Maybe a copy. As to the other documents, it depends on what they are. The executor has to distribute any personal items, funds, trusts and other property. If you think that the executor is not handling the distribution fairly, then your proper recourse is through the court.

The events following the death of a family member should not include fights and arguments.

Answer 4

they ONLY have the right to see the will. Other documents are part of the estate and will be distributed at the discretion of the executor. The hand written list is NOT binding.

Answer 5

FROM WHAT I KNOW--- I DON'T THINK SO, THE EXECUTOR CAN DECIDE IF THEY WANT OTHERS TO SEE THE WILL OR NOT,IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT THE EX. IS BEING SHADY IF THEY DON'T THOUGH. FAMILY DRAMA!!! IT'S A SHAME WHEN THAT HAPPENS.