Excel 2003 Password protected file

My cousin died a week ago leaving a password protected Excel 2003 file titled "The Word" on his laptop. Since I've already found the porn this could be a will?

We've drilled into the safes (no will) and have looked through all his paper files, even contacted the family attorney. Still no will--it was a very, unexpected death.

I need to get this file open and don't mind buying software to help, but don't need to infect my machines or his by downloading from the wrong sites.

I don't want to violate board policy, but if anyone has any good links that are safe, we would appreciate the help.

Read the suggestion to find the file's creator and beat him with a lead pipe---you have NO idea how much I'd enjoy that.........

 

Why would a will, a text-type document, be in Excel? That seems unlikely. Besides, a will needs to be signed and, at least in some states, notarized to be valid. You should be able to verify these legal details concerning what constitutes a valid will with the family attorney you say have contacted.

 

Yeah, I use Word for writing, but some people don't. I've seen documents, especially from folks (read MEN) who think/write succinctly (and he was a Marine), in columns in Excel and we may just find a list of assets (with offshore account numbers???) and hopefully who is intended to get what.....or this may be a giant waste of time. But my aunt is 78 and her husband as well as both sons have died in the last 10 years so I'm trying to do whatever she asks me to do.

Thank you for the other suggestions.

Everybody---check your blood pressure and cholesterol! He was 55. :-(

 

You may want to try this. I have not used it but other people say it worked for them.

http://www.straxx.com/excel/password.html

Edit: Open the excel document, the open the password.xla file. There will now be two additional items in the Tools Menu. Unprotect sheet and unprotect workbook.