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.
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How Does Probate Court Work?
By Danielle Solomon, MA in Professional Writing
All Articles about Wills & probate
What Happens to Cryptocurrency When You Die?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
What Happens to NFTs When You Die?
By Kim DelMonico, BA, JD, Esq.
Can an Executor Override a Beneficiary?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What Is a Bequest in a Will or Trust?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Co-Executor of a Will or Estate: Duties, Pros + Cons
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How to Manage Unequal Inheritances in a Will
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How Does Homeowners Insurance Work After a Death?
By Bob Phillips, BA in Sociology
How to Find a Deceased Parent’s Life Insurance Policy
By Bob Phillips, BA in Sociology
How Do Inheritance Taxes Work?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How to Add Up a Deceased Loved One’s Assets and Debts
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How to Find a Deceased Loved One’s Assets: Step-By-Step
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Estate Accounts: Everything You Need to Know
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How Does Pet Care Work After the Owner Dies?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What Are Executor Fees? Fees By US State
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How to Read a Deceased Loved One’s Will
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What Happens When an Executor of an Estate Dies?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
21 Things to Say Instead of ‘Time Will Heal’ to a Loved One
By Belinda McLeod, BA in Secondary Education
12 Celebrities Who Died Without a Will—And Their Disputes
By Sherrie Johnson, BA in Liberal Studies
10 Things That Happen When Someone Dies Intestate
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Free Estate Planning Checklist: 10 Items to Consider
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How to Find Out If Someone Left You Money After They Died
By Sam Tetrault, BA in English
Trust vs. Will: What's the Difference?
By Laura Leavitt, MA in Rhetoric and Composition
List of 7 Assets You Should Include in Your Will
By Laura Leavitt, MA in Rhetoric and Composition