From our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: Camden County Lost Will

Most Recently Updated July 26, 2018.

“My mother died four months ago as a resident of Camden County and my sister and I cannot locate her will. We thought it thought it would be in the safe deposit box, but it was not. I cleaned out all of her papers in the house. Now, I think I may have accidentally thrown out the will. What can we do?”

Camden County Lost Will – What now?

Camden County Lost Will

If your mother’s will cannot be located, then your mother is considered to have died “intestate,” meaning without a will. When someone dies without a will in New Jersey, the New Jersey Rules of Intestacy apply. These rules dictate who is eligible to serve as the Administrator of the estate and how your mother’s assets will be divided up. If we can find a copy held by the lawyer, it is possible to file the copy, but I would need to know more facts.

If your mother died unmarried and survived by her two children, and if there is no will, your sister and you will divide the estate. Hopefully, you both get along and can cooperate in this process. If you cannot, then you would be well advised to retain an experienced probate lawyer who is skilled in estate litigation. Estate Administrations can sometimes lead to years of conflict between siblings, and a skilled probate attorney can help avoid litigation if possible.

More Probate Questions?

The Camden County lost will is only part of the overall probate process. By all means, if you wish to learn more, please read my more detailed article, The Probate Process All You Need to Know.

In Conclusion: Camden County Lost Will

I hope that this article was helpful in explaining what to do if a will is lost. Further, I included links to even more detailed information on my website. Therefore, please contact me and let me know how I did. Certainly, your comments and questions are welcome!

Let our Probate Lawyers help walk you through what can be a confusing process. To begin with, call to speak to one of our experienced Probate Attorneys.  By all means, our lawyers are ready to answer your questions. In fact, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. Ultimately our goal is to make the process as painless as possible!

Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Litigation, It’s All We Do