Is it possible for someone to legally force me to reveal the contents of my Will while I’m still alive?

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Is it possible for someone to legally force me to reveal the contents of my Will while I’m still alive?

I’ve written up a Will recently and I’m just wondering if someone could do

something like get a court order for me to reveal its contents prior to my death.

Asked on October 7, 2018 under Estate Planning, Texas

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 5 years ago | Contributor

No, no one could. A will has NO effect until you pass away--it is not enforceable until then, can be changed or revoked whenever you want, does not give anyone any rights to anything before you die, etc. Not having any effect--being essentially a purely hypothetical or theoretical thing--no one would have "standing," or a legal right, to force you to reveal it. To have standing, you must suffer from damage, loss, restriction, etc.--i.e. an "injury" of some kind; but there can be no injury from something that has no effect or power.


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