Are all inheritances public records?

Hello D:

No. There are lots of ways an estate can be transferred to heirs WITHOUT going through probate, where there WOULD be a public record.

excon

Thanks, I was afraid of that, but I'll try the next step of seeing if a will was filed at all... but I have another huge obstacle... I know the persons first name and the city and state he lives in but not the last name. His daughter, who is married with a different name, still lives in the same area, is there a way to find her maiden name, that way I could have a last name of the individual in question?

D

Hello again, D:

Maybe she got married in the county where she lives. If so, there's a marriage license application that is public record. It'll tell you her maiden name.

But, you can hire a PI to find ALL this stuff out for you. I can't image it would cost more than a couple hundred bucks to find out EVERYTHING about the will or lack thereof.

excon

Excellent advise, thanks again,

D