Do attorneys keep copies of wills?
Kimberly Ann Bastes
Do attorneys keep copies of wills?
People often ask if attorneys keep copies of wills. The simple answer is no. They are not typically kept in the same manner as other documents, such as contracts, deeds, or agreements.
A will is a legal document that specifies how you would like your assets to be distributed after your death. In addition to this, there are several other documents that need to be drafted and signed in order for the will to be valid. These include:
- A letter of testamentary
- A certificate of appointment for an executor
- An affidavit for execution of will
- A certificate of probate
All of these documents are important and must be filed with the court after your death in order for the will to be considered valid. Due to the sensitive nature of this information, it is not stored in the same place as other legal documents. There are two main reasons why these documents are not stored together: confidentiality and space. The attorney needs to maintain client confidentiality at all times, so a hard copy of one's will being kept would violate that confidentiality. If a copy were kept, it would most likely be stored on a secure computer system where only certain people would have access to it, or in a locked safe where only certain people could get into it. It is also important to
In a friendly tone: Of course they do!
What do you think happens to all those documents after your loved one passes away? It's pretty much common sense that the attorney would keep them so he/she can refer to them in the case of any disputes.
If you need an estate lawyer, please call this law firm for a free consultation:
Parklin Law
5772 West 8030 South, Unit N206,
West Jordan, UT 84081
(801) 618-0699
parklinlaw.com/
