You May Have To Be Patient
12-12-2000
There is no time limit for filing someone's will for processing (called "probated"), so if there is nothing at the county courthouse now, you will just have to be patient and keep checking back on a monthly basis.
It can take anywhere from 1 month to over a year to do all the paperwork involved in settling someone's estate.
Your best bet would be to ask someone in the family where the will is and who the executor is. If they are not cooperating by giving any information, then you may need to get an estate/probate attorney or a business law attorney to send an official letter to the closest surviving relative to prompt a response. This is a situation where it would be a good thing if you could get on the "good side" of any family member that you think might be helpful or sympathetic to your side (if there are any).
What reason do you have to believe that she was named in the will--are you assuming that the relationship was good and close enough that she would have been named for sentimental reasons (which is a good reason) or have you heard an unconfirmed, unsubstantiated rumor? You might wish to check with banks in the city where she lived to see how her bank account was handled and who handled it, which may give you a tip on who to ask about the will.
Try to get a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the funeral program from the funeral home.
SINCERELY,
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