As an executor of a will, your main responsibilities are to: Locate and secure the assets You will need to locate and secure the assets of the deceased, including property, bank accounts, investments, and personal possessions. Pay debts and taxes You are responsible for paying any debts and taxes that the deceased owed, including any outstanding mortgages, credit card balances, […]
What is my job as the executor of a will?
How long does a probate take with a will?
The length of time it takes to go through probate with a will can vary, depending on a number of factors such as the complexity of the estate, the workload of the probate registry, and how promptly the executors are able to provide all the necessary information and documentation. On average, the probate process can take between 6 to 12 […]
How long does probate take with a will?
The time it takes to complete the probate process can vary depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the estate and any disputes that may arise. If the deceased left a valid will that is not contested and the estate is relatively straightforward, the probate process may take several months. In some cases, probate can be completed […]
What are letters of administration?
Letters of Administration are a legal document issued by a court that grants authority to an individual, known as the administrator, to manage the estate of a deceased person who did not leave a valid will. The administrator is responsible for distributing the assets of the estate among the deceased person’s heirs according to state laws governing inheritance. The administrator […]
Personal risks in being an executor
The executor to an estate has the job of winding up someone’s affairs after their death. It is a job that involves both responsibility and personal financial risk. After someone has died, their executor, named in their Will, has the role of administering their estate and ensuring that the beneficiaries receive everything to which they are entitled. It is important […]
What to do if an executor is not taking steps to administer an estate
After a death, the estate’s executor or administrator has the job of winding up the deceased’s affairs. We take a look at what happens if they fail to carry out their role. The task of administering an estate can be time-consuming and is often complex. Where an executor or administrator is not coping with the job or is simply not […]
Who is Your Next of Kin?
Most people tend to think that the term “next of kin” means someone closest to them in their family – their spouse or civil partner, parent, child or other relative. Legally, however, this may not always be the case. This apparent contradiction is the subject of this blog. When is your next of kin of automatic significance? If you haven’t […]
What Could Happen to Your Assets if Your Lose Your Life to COVID-19 Without a Will?
Most of us have already had our lives dominated by the incessant news about the global COVID-19 pandemic, but there are a number of deaths that have without reasonable notice inflicted families. After all, no one really thought a virus allegedly derived from bats could do so much damage to the human population. But it has and swiftly too. One […]
Do I Have To Act As An Executor If Named In a Will?
Administering a relative’s will can be a traumatic experience, but it’s not a role you are forced to do, even if you have been appointed to take on the task by the deceased relative in his or her will. There is a process available if you want to withdraw your rights to take on this task. It’s called renunciation and […]
Check Carefully For a Will When a Loved One Dies
We often think that we have to make a will at sometime or other so that we can be sure that our assets don’t get into the wrong hands once we have died. It seems that in some cases making a Will hasn’t had the effect one would expect it to have. Most law firms admitted in a National Will […]
Storing Your Will So It Can Be Found
Often, when a will is written, the last thing the person whose will it is wants is relatives or potential beneficiaries to shuffle through draws and cupboards looking for a piece of paper which will tell them whether they are a beneficiary or not. However, you might think you should conceal it away from prying eyes, but you do not […]
Choosing an Executor to Administer Your Will
The person who sorts out your property when you die and carries out the instructions in your Will is called your executor. It is preferable that you appoint an executor in your Will as it makes it easier to finalise your Will after you die. There are no restrictions on who you choose to do the job, but it is […]