Have you been appointed as an Executor or Personal Representative? Not sure what to do? Need an Executor's Guide?
Probating an estate can be a demanding and time-consuming process involving complicated taxes, fee payments, disputes amongst beneficiaries and tricky asset transfers. It is therefore important that executors are properly prepared for the task before embarking on it.
Written by experienced estate planning lawyers, in plain and easy to understand English, this probate book is designed to act as an executor handbook and guide executors step-by-step through the probate process. It will give you the knowledge and confidence to act as an executor and administer an estate.
The executor's guide is cleverly crafted and explores each step of the probate process from the moment the deceased passes away right through to the administration and distribution of the deceased's assets, and closing the estate. It covers non-routine matters such as obtaining death certificates, dealing with autopsies and planning funeral arrangements; as well more typical matters such as locating, collecting, managing and distributing assets. It is a one-stop resource to help executors probate an estate quickly and easily.
How to Probate an Estate will, amongst other things, guide you on:
✔ What to do immediately following death - including dealing with anatomical gifts and funeral arrangements.
✔ What to do during the first month of your appointment; including locating and interpreting the deceased's last will, collecting insurance, social security, unpaid salary and other benefits, and managing expenses and liabilities.
✔ How to decide whether probate is necessary, and if so how to open and close probate proceedings.
✔ How to locate and take possession of the deceased's property (the 'estate').
✔ How to prepare an inventory of all the assets and property owned by the deceased and value those assets.
✔ How to manage, protect and preserve the estate; deal with banks, insurance companies and more.
✔ How to notify creditors of the deceased's death, deal with creditors' claims and decide which creditors' claims should be allowed and which should be disallowed.
✔ How to assess and deal with taxes.
✔ How to administer a living trust or trusts created for children.
✔ How to distribute assets to the beneficiaries.
How to Probate an Estate is a practical and sensible executor's guide to help executors and personal representatives through the probate process. This probate for dummies book comes complete with sample forms to illustrate the types of forms that executors need to prepare and file, as well as detailed tax tables covering all states, and many other helpful resources.