If you’ve been left with the responsibility to administer a loved one’s estate after they pass away, you might be feeling overwhelmed and uncertain of where to start the process. That’s okay. You’ve taken the important first step of seeking out information. And although the estate administration process can be nuanced, depending on the facts at hand, there are some key actions that you’ll want to take in short order.
The first steps as an estate executor
There’s a lot to do as an estate administrator, but here are some of the first steps that you’ll want to take:
- File a petition with the probate court along with any existing will and a death certificate. This will ensure that you’re formally identified as the estate’s executor, which will give you legal authority to act on the estate’s behalf.
- Provide notice that the probate process has been started to creditors and those who are set to inherit from the estate.
- Conduct an inventory of all estate assets, being as thorough as possible.
- Identify any money that is owed to the estate and work to collect it.
- Identify any outstanding bills that need to be collected, ensuring that unnecessary services are discontinued.
- Pay all taxes that the estate owes.
- Gain an understanding of the estate’s distribution plan.
Do you need further guidance?
Each of these steps can be challenging in their own right. And yet, they’re just part of the administration process. That’s why many people in the Dayton area choose to seek out guidance when it comes to navigating the complexities of estate administration.
But you can learn more about the best way to handle your circumstances by continuing to read up on the process and what it takes to successfully navigate it. Hopefully then you can confidently move forward knowing that you’re doing what’s best for the estate.
