How soon after someone’s death is it feasible to contact the local probate registry for a copy of the will?
It depends how quickly the executors of the will get round to applying for probate. They generally have a year in which to distribute the estate to beneficiaries, so it could be a matter of months; however without a grant of probate the executors will not be able to even begin administering the estate. Once they’ve applied the grant should be issued within one to four weeks, and the will then becomes available for inspection. That’s assuming of course that there is sufficient in the estate to warrant a grant; if there isn’t, the will may never become a matter of public record.