How is someone notified of the reading of a family members will, especially if someone is trying to hide it?

Answer 1

The "reading of the will" that is shown in movies and on television where everyone sits around while the attorney reads the will does not really happen. The way it really works is that the will is filed for probate with the court, and the executor of the will is responsible to notify all parties about any bequests they are due.

If you believe that the deceased had a will but someone is not producing that will, or that there is no will, you can go to the court and open probate, You can ask the court to appoint you personal representative of the estate, and then you can distribute the assets of the estate according to the intestate (without a will) laws of the state.

When you file probate, you can tell the judge that you believe there is a will but it hasn't been filed. The judge will then order the person believed to have the will to produce it.

If the executor has already opened probate by filing the will with the court, you can ask the probate court for a copy of the file. You'll have to pay for copies, but you can get everything that is in the file. It's public knowledge. Be aware, however, that if the deceased set up a trust, that information is private.

Probate should be opened in the county where the deceased lived.

Answer 2

how can someone hide it? the will should be filed with the person's attorney. Their attorney would contact you upon their death.