Key Takeaways
Look for business cards, invoices or legal correspondence among the deceased’s papers.
Contact local bar associations for referrals or check court filings to see which attorneys represented them.
Search for the deceased's will, if one exists.
Ask the deceased's family and friends.
Request records from relevant legal matters (e.g., estate plan, real estate transactions) to identify the lawyer.
When a loved one passes away, navigating the maze of legal and estate matters can be daunting — especially when it comes to finding their lawyer.
Who managed their legal affairs? Where do you start?
Since the deceased person’s property should be distributed according to their wishes, identifying their lawyer and locating their will is often the most important first step.
Acting quickly matters: Delays can stall probate, allow bills and taxes to accumulate, and even spark unnecessary conflict among family members.
Looking in Personal Spaces
Q: Why should I start with the deceased person's home or workplace?
A: Many people keep vital documents in familiar places like file cabinets, desk drawers, or personal safes.
Wills, property deeds, and legal correspondence may all be stored there. You may also find business cards, which can provide direct contact information.
Q: What about digital records?
A: Today, many lawyers communicate electronically. If your loved one had given you access to their email accounts or cloud storage, you may be able to discover online correspondence with their law firm, invoices, or secure client portal links.
Asking Family, Friends, and Business Contacts
Q: How can relatives or friends help?
A: Close family and friends may know whether the deceased had continuing legal matters — such as lawsuits, contracts, or arrests — that involved a lawyer. They may also remember the name of a law firm or attorney.
Q: Who else might know the lawyer’s name?
A: Business partners often work with attorneys when reviewing contracts, so they can be a useful resource.
In addition, the executor of the estate is often the person most likely to know which lawyer handled the deceased person’s affairs.
Executors are legally responsible for filing the will, managing assets, and paying outstanding debts, so contacting them early can save time and confusion.
Searching Court Records
Q: What can I find at the county courthouse?
A: County courthouses keep records of family law cases, civil litigation, criminal charges, and divorces. Searching by the deceased’s name may reveal case files that list their attorney of record.
Q: What if I don’t find anything locally?
A: You can repeat the search at the federal district courthouse in the deceased person’s area. Federal records may include tax cases, bankruptcies, and federal criminal or civil matters.
Q: How do I reach the lawyer if contact details are outdated?
A: If phone numbers or addresses are no longer valid, reach out to your state’s bar association. Their membership records can confirm whether the lawyer is still practicing and provide current contact details.
If the lawyer has retired or passed away, the bar association should be able to tell you which firm now holds their files.
Using Notarized Documents
Q: Why look at notarized records?
A: Legal documents like divorce settlements, deeds, or affidavits often require notarization. If the deceased’s signature was notarized, the notary public may be tied to a law office.
Q: How do I trace a notary public?
A: Contact the secretary of state’s office in the state where the notarization took place. They can provide the notary’s contact information. Many notaries are employed by law firms, so reaching out may lead you to the deceased person’s lawyer.
Locating the Will
Q: How does finding the will help?
A: A will typically includes the name of the estate planning lawyer who prepared it. If you find the will in the deceased person’s home, you’ll usually have the lawyer’s name and contact details.
Q: What if I can’t find a will at home?
A: Check with the probate court in the county where the deceased lived. Some states require attorneys to file wills with the court, so probate clerks may already have a copy on record.
Checking With Caregivers
Q: Can caregivers or nursing homes provide information?
A: Yes. If the deceased lived in a nursing home or assisted living facility, staff may know the lawyer’s name. Lawyers often visited such facilities to finalize estate planning documents, and staff records may show who they were.
Planning With Trustworthy
Q: How can future confusion about finding a lawyer be avoided?
A: With Trustworthy, families can store all legal and personal documents in a secure digital vault.
Trustworthy’s collaboration tools ensure that designated family members and advisors have access to critical information, including the lawyer’s name, when it’s needed most.
Instead of rifling through file drawers or waiting on probate offices, a family using Trustworthy could open their loved one’s account, pull up the estate documents instantly, and know exactly which attorney to call.
The Bottom Line
Finding a deceased person’s lawyer can be a challenging and emotional process, but there are clear steps to follow. Start with personal spaces and family contacts, move on to courthouse and notary searches, and check with caregivers if applicable.
Locating the will is often the most direct route, since it usually lists the estate lawyer. If the attorney has retired or died, your state's bar can help locate their successor.
And by planning with tools like Trustworthy, you can make sure your own loved ones won’t face the same uncertainty. Organizing documents now saves time, reduces stress, and ensures your wishes are honored without confusion.
We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email us with any questions, comments, or suggestions for future article topics.
