If a person has a Will and blood relatives are not mentioned in it, must they be notified that there is a Will?
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If a person has a Will and blood relatives are not mentioned in it, must they be notified that there is a Will?
They have been left no assets.
Asked on March 5, 2014 under Estate Planning, New York
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his or her estate and provides for the distribution of his property at death. For the devolution of property not disposed of by will, see inheritance and intestacy.
Though it has at times been thought that a "will" was historically limited to real property while "testament" applies only to dispositions of personal property (thus giving rise to the popular title of the document as "Last Will and Testament"), the historical records show that the terms have been used interchangeably.Thus, the word "will" validly applies to both personal and real property. A will may also create a testamentary trust that is effective only after the death of the testator.
Answer: Those who are not mentioned in the will as beneficiaries do not have to receive notice of the document.
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