1. Gather all important documents.
This includes the will, death certificate, trust documents, and any other pertinent paperwork.
2. Notify beneficiaries and others with interest in the estate.
This includes notifying heirs, creditors, and any other interested parties.
3. Inventory assets and liabilities of the estate.
This means making a list of all the property and money that is part of the estate, as well as any debts that need to be paid.
4. Appoint an attorney to assist with probate proceedings.
In most cases, you will need to hire an attorney to help with the probate process.
5. Determine the executor's authority and responsibilities.
As executor, you will have a lot of responsibility for wrapping up the estate. You will need to make sure you are aware of what is expected of you.
6. Transfer assets to rightful heirs or beneficiaries.
This includes distributing property and money according to the will or trust document.
7. Pay outstanding debts of the estate.
The executor is responsible for paying any debts that are owed by the estate.
8. File the final tax return for the estate.
The executor is also responsible for filing the final tax return for the deceased person.
9. Close bank accounts and other financial institutions' accounts of the deceased.
You will need to close any bank or financial accounts that belonged to the deceased person.
10. Dispose of personal property according to the wishes of the deceased.
Personal property can be disposed of in many ways, depending on what the deceased person wanted.