Could someone help me find out if I'm a beneficiary of a will, for free and if so how would I go about doing that ?

Question

It would be from either Colorado, Ohio, California, Idaho or oregon

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

To find out if you're named in someone's will, you'll need to start by checking probate court records in the counties where the deceased person lived. This process is free and can often be done online through each state's court website or in person at the courthouse. 
 
Since you're looking across multiple states, begin by gathering basic information about the deceased person: their full name, approximate date of death, and their last known address. Each state you mentioned - Colorado, Ohio, California, Idaho, and Oregon - maintains public records that you can search, though the exact process varies by location. In California, for example, you can search the Superior Court records in the county where the person lived, while Oregon uses the state court's website for probate searches. 
 
For the most efficient approach, contact the probate court clerk's office in each relevant county. These court clerks deal with will searches regularly and can guide you through their specific search process. Keep in mind that if the estate went through probate (which happens with most wills), the records become public documents that anyone can access. However, if the death occurred recently, the will might not yet be filed with the court, or if the assets were held in trust, there might not be public records available.

Q: Could someone help me find out if I'm a beneficiary of a will, for free and if so how would I go about doing that ?