Is there a way to find out what was written in a will?

[ceresone]

My Brother died in 1977 in Louisania. He left a brother, 2 sisters and a Mother, besides his Wife. I got a letter from their lawyer, with a paper for my Mother and I to sign, renouncing our part in his will. My Mother died shortly after my Brother, and naturally, I signed, so his wife would get everything. His wife has now been dead several years. I have always wondered about this--were Mom and I mentioned in his will? My Brother and Sis didnt have to sign, why just me? I dont want to cause any problems, but I have always wondered just what his will said. He lived in Minden, died in Shreveport.

[Yvonne's hubby]

Read it. Wills are recorded in the public records when an estate is settled.

[ceresone]

How do I find public records in another state?

[kimmom2five]

Shreveport is in Caddo parish in LA. Find out who handles the probate court there and where wills are kept. You can probably order a copy over the phone or Mail.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by ceresone

How do I find public records in another state?

I would start with the county. Do you know the county he lived in when he died?

If you still have the original letter the county name, or attorneys name should be there.

[Yvonne's hubby]

Most places I have ever lived these kinds of records are kept by the county... either a hall of records or county court clerks office. Where ever the records are kept in the county where he resided when he passed away. You should be able to contact them, and get a copy mailed to you.

[mistletoad]

Louisiana has parishes, not counties

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by mistletoad

Louisiana has parishes, not counties

That is true, things are called by different names in different places, and sometimes the rules can be quite different as well. Pretty sure that wills are a matter of public record though, in whatever office such things are found. In my state we have counties, and each county has a county seat where such records are kept. In my county the will books are under the counter in the county court clerks office, just to the right of the mortgage books, right across the aisle from the deed books. For reasons best known to the county court clerk, deed book #69 was kept for years on the top of the cabinet, instead of between book 68 and 70.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by mistletoad

Louisiana has parishes, not counties

I remembered that as soon as I posted. I figured someone would chime in and I was right.............LOL!

[wottahuzzee]

It is my understanding that the laws have changed since I lived there, but the inheritance laws in Louisiana were different from any other state because the laws in Louisiana are based on the Napoleonic code. It may have had something to do with that.

[frogmammy]

Since you and your mother were mentioned (given) something in the will, he had likely wanted to leave the two of you something. Since your brother and sister did NOT receive the papers to sign off, they likely were NOT mentioned, and very likely they were to receive nothing. This was KS.

Mon

[larryfoster]

Many places have public records online.
You may be able to access them that way

[AngieM2]

This link might be of some help as a starting point...

http://www.caddoclerk.com/

[ceresone]

That is a starting point, Thank You. please understand, I dont want to cause any problems--its long ago, I would just like to know my Brother thought of me.

[AngieM2]

I understand. The not knowing is really a hard thing to live with.

[rharper]

Originally Posted by wottahuzzee

It is my understanding that the laws have changed since I lived there, but the inheritance laws in Louisiana were different from any other state because the laws in Louisiana are based on the Napoleonic code. It may have had something to do with that.

"Stella!"

Funny thing here is that about everything I know about Louisiana common law is from "A Streetcar Named Desire" ...

[wottahuzzee]

Originally Posted by rharper

"Stella!"

Funny thing here is that about everything I know about Louisiana common law is from "A Streetcar Named Desire" ...

Everything I know about LA law is from living there, as I noted. Fortunately, they have changed the forced heirship laws and head and master law. To the extent they changed the heirship laws I don't know but you did not have a lot of sayso about where your property was going as it was determined by the law.

OP mentioned this happened in 1977 so the old laws were still in force at that time, though that is about the time frame they did away with head and master law.

[Joshie]

I don't think I'd want to know because it'd upset me if I'd been bequeathed something I really wanted, especially a family heirloom.

[Ann-NWIowa]

I worked for an attorney and we probated a Will that left two sisters of the deceased each $1. He just wanted to acknowledge them in his Will. I spent a lot of time and some interesting detective work locating the sisters. I first wrote to the State of Oregon asking for death certificates for the sisters. Only one was deceased so I got a copy of her death certificate that indicated the other sister had provided the information. I then wrote to the funeral home enclosing a letter for the sister asking them to forward it. Shortly thereafter the sister called me. She appreciated our letting her know her brother had died and asked us to send her a copy of the Will which we did. It turned out to be an insolvent estate so she didn't even get her $1.

[Michael W. Smith]

Originally Posted by ceresone

My Brother died in 1977 in Louisania. He left a brother, 2 sisters and a Mother, besides his Wife. I got a letter from their lawyer, with a paper for my Mother and I to sign, renouncing our part in his will. My Mother died shortly after my Brother, and naturally, I signed, so his wife would get everything.

That's odd. But I'm wondering if your Mother needed to sign off of his ESTATE because in some States, I think the wife is entitled to half and the family is entitled to half. Are you sure he had a WILL?

Wills are public record, but if it was an estate being settled there wouldn't be any record of that. If you still have the letter, get ahold of the attorney.

I remember about a year after my Mother died, a lawyer came to where I worked. It seems that her Grandfather or Father had some property that he had sold and something wasn't done comopletely right and all 3 of my siblings, myself, and my Dad had to sign off to give the rightful owners a clear deed. I never questioned it, and neither did my siblings or my Dad.

You should have asked questions before you signed, but like us, we didn't ask either. But like I said, I wonder if in your Brother's case they were settling the estate and he didn't actually have a will.