Claim on Deceased? Find out What to Do!

Questioner

We have a claim on a deceased person, how can I find out who is handling the deceased's will? Can the will still be changed if this person has been declared terminal?

Lawyer

Dear questioner, To find out who is handling the estate, you could contact the clerk of the court of the deceased's last place of residence. A public estate register is kept there. If necessary, the clerk can provide you with an extract for a fee. This register includes the name of the notary who is handling the estate. You can then contact this notary. If no one has yet settled the estate (for example because there are no heirs or because the balance is too small), I advise you to contact your own notary if you wish to continue the case and (the amount of) your claim outweighs the costs to be incurred at the notary. After all, you as the client will initially be liable for these costs of the notary. I can be brief about the question of whether a will can still be changed when someone is terminally ill. This is possible, but is at the sole discretion of the notary who is asked to draw up the will.