If the executor of the will is sent a sealed copy at the time the will is made is he to open it in front of everyone?

Igloo you are so right! My MIL was executor for her brother,, when he passed she put the farm up for sale for a million. All the nieces and such came out of the woodwork wanting their "cut" right away. called her every name in the book because she would not pay them right away out of her own money (like she could) ,. the farm sold for 250,ooo. Big shock for them! After she paid the bills and such,, no one got more than a few bucks. Big surprise for them!

There is no will reading nowadays. Will is submitted to probate court. If the will is determined to be valid then judge / probate court accepts it & it’s filed in probate court and available as public records and downloaded by anyone for a smallish fee. An executor or administrator of the estate as per will is named and given authority via Letters Testamentary, and between executor, the probate atty and your states probate laws & the court it’s determined what happens with the assets / debts of the estate and how given to heirs.

Often a will was done decades prior and written when there were oodles more assets so when they actually die the estate is quite small or nonexistent. All those thinking that there was going to be a windfall of cash find that instead they are 1 estates asset distribution away from being able to buy a used car at best. I was executor an aunt with this situation.... lots of high hopes by folks for $$$ but the reality was that there was lots of messy debt and property with bad chains of ownership which is tedious and costly to unspool. 

He probates the will. At that time it will be out on file and be public. He will be required to send letters to the beneficiaries and interested parties that the will has been probated.

Formal readings of a will are something for TV, but not real life. The Executor is supposed to make sure bequests are made to the proper people after the bills of the estate are settled. A will that goes through probate is a public document, anyone can request a copy from the courthouse, there likely will be a fee and you could be asked why you want a copy.

I know that a lot of TV shows and movies like to make a big production of the dramatic moment when the family gathers together and the Will Is Read but I've never heard of anyone doing this in real life. Just from a practical point of view, how will the executor know who the beneficiaries even are and who to bring together unless s/he has already read the document?

I imagine the purpose of giving the executor a *sealed* copy, specifically, is that the testator did not want the contents discussed before his or her passing.

Once the testator dies and the will comes into effect, it is then a public document. There should be no reason for the executor not to make it available for everyone who wants to to see it; but if that's inconvenient to him for some reason he is free to tell you to look it up yourselves.

It sounds as if you suspect your BIL of "editing" the will? Legally, he can't do that. An executor is required to carry out the instructions in the will, period, whether or not any beneficiaries are aware of what they are.

Would you like to say a little more about what is worrying you?