Executor(s) have a legal duty to notify beneficiaries to a will of their entitlement. After a person dies, and as part of the probate process, their will is filed by the executor(s) with the probate court. Once filed it becomes a publicly accessible document and anyone, including potential beneficiaries, is entitled to inspect it. So a beneficiary should either be informed of the contents of the will by the executor or failing that carry out their own enquiries.
