Who Gets a Copy of a Will After the Testator Dies?
When someone dies, you’ve probably watched in the movies or on TV or read in a book about “the reading of the Will.” Unfortunately, this is purely a theatrical device designed to create drama and tension within a fictional story – today there’s no legal requirement that a Last Will and Testament be read out loud to anyone. Instead, the estate attorney has to determine who is entitled to receive a copy of the Will and who should be sent a copy even if state law doesn’t require it. So who should get a copy of the Will? Personal Representative Named in the Will Probably the most important interested party who must receive a copy of the Will is the person or entity named to serve as the Testator’s Personal Representative. Why? Because the Personal Representative is solely responsible for settling the Testator’s estate and therefore needs to review the Will to understand who the beneficiaries of the Will are and any special restrictions or instructions about their shares of the estate; all
