Estate Administration

Most people do not choose professional estate executors. They choose spouses, adult children, other relatives or trusted friends who suddenly find themselves responsible for managing an estate and fulfilling duties they may know little about. The role often involves...

One common challenge to estate plans, which can often lead to extensive conflict or litigation between beneficiaries, is undue influence. This is essentially a claim that someone manipulated the person who was writing the estate plan so that they would make changes to...

If a loved one or friend who recently passed away chose you to be the personal representative of their estate (commonly known as an executor), they have placed you in a position of great responsibility. They clearly trusted that you would handle it capably and...

Naming one or a couple of your children as executors of your estate may seem like a practical idea. Most of your assets will likely be passed on to them, and you believe they are the best ones to carry out your final wishes. While involving your children may seem like...

Some people don’t have a chance to pay off all their debts before they pass away. This leaves the question of who will pay for those debts when the person dies. The answer to this isn’t always easy, but taking the time to review the circumstances around the debt may...

“In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes,” according to Ben Franklin. If you’re the executor of a loved one’s estate, you’re probably thinking about both of these things right now. One of the many responsibilities of an executor is to file the deceased’s...

Your executor or “personal representative” is the person you name to make sure that your estate is properly handled. Assuming that there are no problems with their appointment, that’s the person the court will ultimately authorize to secure all your assets, pay your...

When someone takes the time to create a trust, they will likely put in place numerous rules about the use of the assets used to fund the trust. The trustee that they empower to manage and distribute those assets will have a powerful obligation to the beneficiaries...

It can be difficult to handle the death of a loved one, but when you are left to deal with their estate, things can get even more complicated. If you have been named executor in your parents' will, it is important to know the next steps. The responsibilities of an...

Whether you volunteered to serve as the representative of someone's estate years ago or the probate courts appointed you, all of the major responsibilities fall to you. A big part of estate administration involves fulfilling someone's outstanding obligations after...