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How to be a Good Executor of a Will or Estate (aarp.org)
Planning ahead for needing to help our extended Bigfoot family with future needs with the estate dealings after a death.
As the person choosing an executor:
Choose a lawyer. A small-town lawyer is often cheaper and covers the basics and not unnecessary expenses.
Submit your Will.
Write a letter of explanation to read to the family/persons of interest.
If you can, choose an Executer that will be as neutral, fair as possible, but willing to obey the legal wishes of the deceased.
Tell the Executor passwords, knowledge of who gets certain things, and intimate info that few should know.
As Executor:
Discuss things with the person in question.
Receive the lawyers phone number, and family too.
Be notified of the death.
Get a copy of the official Will.
Probate Court: File Will and Death Certificate.
Thus, receiving letter of testamentary: recognizing you as Executor.
Now you can start acting as the representative.
Get over 12 copies of the Death Certificate. Can’t have too many. Needed for most decisions at this point.
Secure home and valuables.
Document Contents!
Not cool to show up after the death, pillaging valuables just because you feel entitled.
Create a to-do-list.
Hire an attorney if you haven’t already. Choosing the one that did the Will, makes sense.
You can do much of it yourself but seeing a lawyer initially could set you on the right path.
Show trust by sharing information frequently.
Find a fair way to have family choose items they want.
In conclusion, file a final financial statement with probate court, or a statement to the family.
Jealousy; image, by GDJ | Pixabay.
Jealousy; image, by GDJ | Pixabay.
