Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

friend's will

my friend passed away recently, but before she did she told me she was leaving me some of her money.I live in nevada, and her family in california. they have refused to answer my letters or calls, and they are contesting the will, i think. I only want to know how to find out if my friend did leave me money. i cannot afford to pay a lawyer. thank you so much


Asked on 3/30/09, 9:04 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Jonathan Reed Reed & Mansfield

Re: friend's will

You haven't said what state and county your friend was a resident of. If the will has been filed with a court it is a public record and you can see the will by going to the court house.

Under Nevada law, wills are supposed to be filed with the court when someone dies.

If your friend died without a will her assets would go to various next of kin specified by statute.

Your worst case scenario is that your friend left a will and left you money in it, but you don't have a copy and the next of kin totally ignore the will to defeat your claim. In this scenario I don't know how you prove your case unless you can locate her will by contacting her attorney.

If your friend's family is truly contesting the will and you are named as a beneficiary, then they file the will and serve you with notice of a contest.

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Answered on 3/30/09, 11:27 pm


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