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National will registry being built

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National will registry being built

Losing track of a deceased family member’s last will and testament can be a devastating and costly problem for the surviving family.

The U.S. Will Registry ( www.WillsUS.com ) is offering a way for attorneys and their clients to access a national database to trace information regarding the location and holder of last wills and testaments, said Stacey Miller, communications director of the the U.S. Will Registry. Miller said the registry database does not store a copy of the will, just its location.

“creating the most encompassing database possible, it is quick and easy for clients and attorneys to locate a will that is most current or has been misplaced or forgotten,” Miller said.

(The Florida Bar’s Ethics Department reminds lawyers they may not list clients on the registry without the clients’ consent.)

Miller said it is completely free for attorneys to create a profile page and register their firms and clients with the U.S. Will Registry.

Miller said another feature offered by registry is a missing will search. If a search is made for a will and the will is not found on the registry, then a notification is emailed to all registered attorneys. This notification serves to alert attorneys to check their files to see if they are the attorney who prepared the will. A record will remain in the missing will database, which attorneys can check for families searching for a will.

For more information, visit www.WillsUS.com or contact Miller at 888-388-6877.

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