It’s never easy to be the executor of an estate. Many important things rest on your shoulders. While you might be alright with being in charge of another person’s financial matters, it’s still a difficulty that you may not enjoy.
Fortunately, there are some ways to make being an executor easier. You can, for example, make sure you get multiple copies of a death certificate, which makes it easier to notify businesses, creditors and others about the party’s death. Obtain twice as many as you think you need, since not having enough isn’t a problem you want to run into.
Another thing you can do to make being an executor easier is to keep all your important documents in two places in duplicate. You don’t ever want to find that you’ve lost something important and can’t recall where to get a copy. Always have at least two copies of important documents. Consider keeping some locked up in a safe or lock box at a local bank.
Finally, if you’re not sure you know what you’re doing, you can always seek help from a professional. Although you have to put your pride aside, working with a professional is a better idea if you’re not sure you can take care of the estate without mistakes. Everyone knows that an estate is complicated, so working with an attorney, accountants or others may just be something you need to do, even if you didn’t plan on it.
These are a few tips to help make being an executor easier. Remember to reach out for help if you need it.
Source: Bankrate, “You’re the executor of an estate? Here are 7 tips for getting through it,” Judy Martel, accessed Jan. 31, 2018
