AUG. 14, 2001
DEAR MAGGIEMAC:
Since I am not familiar with West Virginia law, you would need to speak with a West Virginia probate attorney about this aspect (a first consultation is usually free or very inexpensive), or you could go to the library to look up the West Virginia laws or post this same question on the
www.lawguru.com website where it is more likely that a West Virginia law attorney would see your question and respond.
Normally, an adult child of the deceased could reasonably expect to probably be a beneficiary and therefore could at least ask to see a copy of the will. But your comment, "Needless to say, the person requesting is not in the will" is confusing. If this adult child knows he is not in the will, why would he be interested in seeing it--just for curiosity to see what the other heirs are getting? If he is not benefitting as an heir, he could just wait to see the will at the courthouse--and just to clarify, the will is available whenever it is filed before the probate procedures begin, it is not just available after the probate process is finished.