Is his dad still alive?

I live in Canada, but has he tried asking the executor? I am assuming it is not your friend or he would have a copy -and/or perhaps he has been excluded from the will - which of course would not entitle him to a copy of the will. I don't know how things work in the U.S., but if I were to call the Cdn. equivalent agency I would have to be the Executor or the appointed Trustee Without A Will to be given the information. If the will is "missing" - in Canada - at least in Ontario - you can register where you put the will, but when I last checked, you don't register what it says (this helps when someone dies and has hidden the will a little too carefully). Happened with my MIL - fortunately the lawyer had a notarized copy - othewise it would have been as if she had died without a will and my husband and his family would have had to go through the appointing of a Trustee in the case of a person who died without a will - which in retrospect would not have been a bad thing - since there were 5 kids and only once was named executor!

My husband hasn't done Estate Law since 1985, but at that time, Wills didn't have to be filed with the court or recorder's office until after a person died. But, once it's filed with the court, it becomes public record, and anyone can get a copy of it (by paying for the copy, of course).

Contact the Los Angeles County Recorder, and yes they are really busy on the phone. I would write to them giving all the details. Send it certified mail, request proof of receiving it so you know it got their and who signed for it. Also the reason, may help also. Just asked DH as we used to live there, and he said it would go thru probate, then to the County Recorder. Of course if the father has not passed away, because of the privacy laws, he might have to have a lawyer help.
Good luck.

Wills in California are not required to be recorded. And not every estate has to g thru probate, either. My mother's assets were in a living trust, and no probate nor filing of the will was required.

Here is a link that might be useful: Probate in California

Coincidentakky, I ordered copies of some legal documents from Los Angeles County about six weeks ago in connection with genealogy research, but haven't yet received them. These documents dated back to the mid-1950ties. I"ve heard that such requests can take 3 to 4 months if ordered by mail.

I sent a "not to Exceed $xx." check, because if you dont know the Court Case No,there is an additional $15 "search fee, plus a 50 cent per page copy fee for uncertified copies.
I also included a very well-stamped return envlope.

A few days ago my sister-in-law, who lives in L.A., telephoned & offered to personally go to the Los Angeles County Superior Court Archives building & have the file pulled & copies made.

I figure one way or other, I'll get those copies.

kfca37,

Depending on what documents you need, the information may be available online from genealogy sites, such as Ancestry.com.

Thanks for the idea, but I doubt I'd find this at any genealogy site. Speaking of Wills, however, there are a lot of well-known individuals' Wills posted on the internet, such as Henry Fonda, Clark Gable,Princess Di,Jerry Garcia, Walt Disney, etc. etc. Just google "Wills of prominent people" for interesting reading.

Did you try the info on the LA County courts probate page. Maybe something there will help. There may be a way to check if a probate has been opened.

Here is a link that might be useful: Probate court, LA

The only way to check if a probate (or any other Superior Court case) was opened in LA is to either personally go down & check their data base (not currently on line) or laboriously go through the old record books they keep on site OR pay them the $15. "search fee" to do the same. One way or other, they (the County Clerk's Office) MUST have the case number or be able to determine there was none--- or you'll go no place.

I worked for a California probate attorney for many years (and no, the Recorder's Office is not involved in probate) & currently spend a fair amount of time in retirement down at my (California) County Courthouse searching for probate & divorce records for genealogical volunteer work. For other counties, I have to go through the aforementioned routine.

California Birth Index, 1905-1995
California Death Index, 1940-1997
California Divorce Index, 1966-1984
California Marriage Index, 1960-1985
California Marriages, 1850-1877

The above are all on Ancestry.com

In a nutshell, if your friend's father is deceased, he or she should snailmail Los Angeles County Records Center, 222 N.Hill Street,Room 212, Los Angeles,CA 90012, tell them the date father died & request them to check for a probate, and if there was one, that your friend wants a copy of his Will.

Enclose a check for "Not to exceed $20", which would cover their $15 search fee (assuming not known), plus at least 20 pages of a Will (rarely that much---the County office will fill in the correct amount. Also enclose a sufficient postage paid return envelope so the Records Center staff can either send the Will copy OR respond that no such probate exists or ever existed in Los Angeles County.

Then wait.

I'm across the country from you--so this advice may or may not apply.

I've always found that for copies of legal documents, you do best to appear in person, with the appropriate ID and documentation when you need copies of legal documents. If a will is filed, ANYONE can get a copy here, as long as you're willing to pay the fee. Especially with the phones being constantly busy, it may be best for him to just head to the probate office. Alternatively, your county store may be an easy first step--they should be able to give him the steps to getting what he needs and answer his questions.

The point I was trying to find out is whether he's dead or alive. It'll make a difference. As said, some counties record Wills and some don't. Ones that record them don't require a Will be recorded to be valid. If he's dead, I'd contact the Administrator of the estate or the attorney handling it. Sounds to me like he wants to get a copy of his still alive father and that's probably not going to be done through the court. Then he should ask his dad.

Sorry, but here's another situation that's impossible to give much good advice without some information. Hope all works out.

One question though, how do you send a "not to exceed $__" check? I've seen purchase orders handled in this manner all the time but in my state it's illegal to alter a check so they can't change an amount but I suppose you could put a statement in a memo, but I don't think a memo is enforceable. When I dealt with agencies they'd always give an estimate on the amount. For instance a trial transcript would be ordered, they'd estimate the transcript to be, for instance 100 pages at $1 per page so you'd pay $100 deposit and balance if there was any when it was prepared and ready to be picked up.

I used to have all my checks printed with "Void after 90 days" printed on them but that too is dubious on enforcement. It would help for procrastinators though. They did cash them quicker!

Well, since the original poster was asking about Los Angeles County in the State of California, Wills do not get recorded in the State of California, repeat, repeat. It does not happen here. The only thing that gets recorded in a California probate in any county is a Court Order signed by the probate judge transferring real property to a purchaser or heir, which document acts in place of a deed.

You can file your Will with the County Clerk of the county in California in which you reside while you're still alive (though I dont know of many people who do that anymore---used to be more common years ago) or the named Executor or Adminstrator or, more usually, their attorney, can file it for probate with the County Clerk after death & have a first hearing date set.

As far as a "not to Exceed $xx" check, you just hand write or type that exact statement directly below the long "_________________ Dollar" line & do not fill in anything on the short "$____" line. The payee does both,