How do I find out if a deceased relative in Malta left a will at all?

Malta maintains a Public Registry where public wills, once executed before a notary, are recorded, meaning a search of the Public Registry is generally a key step in trying to establish whether your relative left a public will, and a notary can typically assist with conducting this kind of search on the family's behalf as part of properly investigating the estate. For secret wills, which are deposited with the Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction rather than being recorded in the same way as public wills, establishing whether one exists can be somewhat less straightforward, since by their nature they remain confidential until opened, though the court itself would hold relevant records that can be checked as part of a proper investigation into whether your relative left any will at all. Given that failing to locate an existing will before proceeding on the assumption of intestacy could lead to significant complications later if a will is discovered after the estate has already started being administered under intestate succession rules, it would be important to have a notary or lawyer conduct a proper and thorough search across both the Public Registry and the Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction before finalising how your relative's estate will be administered.