Can a lawyer keep a will from someone?

Answer 1

Lawyers have specific instructions and regulations regarding who they share the contents of the will with. After someone dies, the contents are shared with the beneficiaries and interested parties only. The above answer is correct, so here are just a few details for which the answer was flagged: Before the testator dies a lawyer can keep a will from everyone except the testator if the testator wants it back. After the testator dies, a lawyer can keep a will from everyone except the named executor or other person who has the first obligation to probate the will. After the testator dies, a lawyer representing an executor can keep a will from everyone, even beneficiaries, if the executor directs the lawyer to not to give it out. The lawyer has to go by the client's directives, even though they may be misguided. The lawyer will tell the executor that it is the executor's obligation to give the will to beneficiaries; but it is the executor's obligation to give out the will. The lawyer does not act independently of the executor. Lastly, there is no "law" that specifies whether a lawyer can or cannot keep a will from someone. The above two answers are what I believe to be accurate interpretations of a lawyer's obligations on client confidentiality and scope of authority in representing a client.