Checklist: What an Executor Does After a Death
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Blog
Wills & probate
A will is a formal legal document that expresses your final wishes and how your property is to be distributed when you're gone. However, probate is the legal process of proving your will is legally valid.
How to serve as executor of a will
If you’re the executor of a will, you’re responsible for carrying out the terms of a will. It’s your role to honor your loved one’s wishes to the best of your ability. While this can be a big responsibility, it’s also an opportunity to protect your loved one’s assets, arrangements, and estate. This is a final act of kindness for someone you love.
Most popular articles
How to Find Someone’s Will After Their Death: Step-By-Step
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What Happens When an Executor of an Estate Dies?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Probate
Probate is a legal process that administers someone's estate after their death. Even if you have a legal will and testament, probate is the process that proves this will is valid. If you have a clear and legal will, probate is generally a simple process. However, if you die without a will or your will is contested, a probate court will apply your state's laws to determine how to distribute your estate.
Most popular articles
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How Does Probate Court Work?
By Danielle Solomon, MA in Professional Writing
All Articles about Wills & probate
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Pennsylvania?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Oregon?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Vermont?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Wisconsin?
By Gary Stern, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Utah?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Virginia?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
Dying Without a Will In Wyoming: What Happens?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Washington DC?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Mississippi?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Missouri?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in New York?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in New Mexico?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Kansas?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
How to Be a Good Executor of a Will: 10 Tips
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
How Long Is a Will Valid After Someone Dies?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Colorado?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Arizona?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Alabama?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Alaska?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Arkansas?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
How to Claim Union Death Benefits: Step-by-Step
By Belinda McLeod, BA in Secondary Education
What Can (And Can’t) Be Paid Out of an Estate Account
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
Should Your Aging Parents Put Their House in Your Name?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
How Does a Trust Work After a Death?
By Gary Stern, JD
What Happens If an Executor Refuses to Pay a Beneficiary?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.