Settling an estate
You were named executor. Here is the order of operations.
Being asked to settle a parent’s estate is an honor and a lot of mail. We do the legal part and keep you on a calendar.
Some estates go through the probate court and some do not, depending on what was owned and how. We tell you which yours is in the first meeting, then handle the filings, notices and accountings.
What you get
A written calendar of deadlines on day one
Court filings, notices and letters to banks drafted for you
Fees quoted for the whole estate, not by the phone call
The first few months
From the funeral to the final check
The order is the same for most estates. The timing depends on the court and on how tidy the paperwork is.
- 01
Step 1: Gather
Find the will, a list of accounts and property, and a copy of the death certificate. We help you build the list.
- 02
Step 2: File
If the court needs to appoint you, we prepare and file the petition and tell the other heirs.
- 03
Step 3: Notify
Banks, the pension office, creditors and insurers each get a letter. We draft them and track the replies.
- 04
Step 4: Pay and account
Debts, taxes and final bills are paid from the estate, and you keep a record of every dollar.
- 05
Step 5: Distribute
Once the claims period closes and the court allows it, the rest goes to the people named in the will.
Questions
Questions from first-time executors
Will my parent’s estate need the probate court?
No. Property with a named beneficiary, joint accounts and assets in a trust often pass outside the court. We check what your parent owned and tell you.
Can I be paid for being executor?
In most places an executor can be paid a modest fee set by law, and it counts as taxable income. We explain how it works for your estate.
What if a sibling is upset?
Keep every receipt and answer messages in writing. We can write to a sibling on your behalf or meet with everyone.
How long until the estate is closed?
Often most of a year, sometimes longer if there is real estate to sell or a dispute. We give you a realistic range at the start.
Do I have to pay for the lawyer out of my own pocket?
Usually the fee is paid from the estate. We say how in the fee letter.
Hold the mail. Call us.
A free thirty-minute call is enough to tell you what the first month looks like.
Fees are quoted in writing before work starts; court and filing costs are separate.