How to Determine Estate Heirs
- 1). Locate the deceased person's will. Often, a deceased person will have the original copy of their will. It's typical for a will to be kept among a deceased person's important papers.
- 2). Contact people close to the deceased person. Individuals who were close to the deceased person, such as family members and close friends, might know where the will was kept. They might also know who was named executor if the deceased person executed a will.
- 3). Consult the intestacy statutes of the state where the deceased person died if the deceased person left no will. Intestacy statutes provide information regarding which heirs are entitled to inherit and how much of the estate they will receive.
- 4). Contact a probate attorney in the state where the decedent died. Some states, such as Texas, allow potential heirs to apply for a proceeding to determine heirship.
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