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Copy of Will Request Checklist: Free Printable
By Jason Su · Updated October 26, 2026
A will usually surfaces in one of two places: still with whoever holds the original, or already filed with the court. This checklist runs both in order, so you spend your time looking where the will actually is instead of guessing.
It also carries the one warning that saves the most trouble: a copy of a will is a document you can read, not permission to act. Getting the copy and getting authority are two different steps.
The checklist
Step 1: Look for the original first
- The person’s home — fireproof box, filing cabinet, desk drawer, any folder
- A safe deposit box (ask the branch what it needs to open it)
- The attorney who drafted it
- The person the will names to handle the estate
- Anyone the person told about the will
Step 2: Call the court clerk and ask
- Has a will been filed for this person? (give full legal name, county, date of passing)
- What do you need from me to release a copy?
- Can I view the file or order online?
Step 3: Bring what the clerk asks for
| Item | Ready? |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of the certificate of passing | [ ] |
| Full legal name (exactly as recorded) | [ ] |
| County and state where the person lived | [ ] |
| Case number, if an estate is already open | [ ] |
| Photo ID and payment for the per-page fee | [ ] |
Remember
- A copy is not authority to act on the estate
- A copy is not proof the will is valid
- If nothing is filed yet, that is not the same as “no will exists”
How to use it
- Run Step 1 before the court. Most wills are found in the house or with an attorney, which is faster and free. If you know who drafted it, start there.
- Write down the four facts before you call. Full legal name, county, date of passing, and who holds the original if you know. Those four turn a vague call into a fast one.
- Bring a certified copy, not a photocopy. Courts and banks both want the certified certificate, so order extra copies when you get the first — see how to order them.
- Treat “nothing filed yet” as a lead, not a dead end. It usually means no one has filed the original yet, which is its own next step.
Frequently asked
Can anyone get a copy of a will?
Once it is filed with the court, generally yes — court records are public, and the clerk will sell a copy for a small fee. Before it is filed, only the people holding the original have access.
Do I need a lawyer to get a copy?
No. Requesting a copy is an administrative task. You need a lawyer for what comes after, especially if the will is missing or disputed.
Is a copy the same as the original?
No. The original is the document with legal standing. A copy is what you read to understand what is coming, and it does not give you authority to act.
What if the court says there is no will on file?
That usually means nothing has been filed yet, not that no will exists. Find the original, or file the petition that starts the process, then ask again. See how to get a copy of someone’s will for the full walkthrough.
Next step
Write down the four facts today — full legal name, county, date of passing, and who holds the original — then call the clerk’s office and ask whether a will has been filed. Record what you find in the free Document Inventory so the next person does not repeat the search.
This is general information, not legal advice. Filing deadlines, copy fees, and the rules for a missing will differ by state and change over time — please talk with a licensed attorney in your state about your situation.