Book Description

The step-by-step guide to serving as an executor, trustee, or estate representative If you need to wrap up the affairs of a loved one who has died, you may feel overwhelmed—especially when you’re grieving. But you can do it, and this book will show you how. The Executor’s Guide provides a clear road map through an unfamiliar land of legal procedures and terminology. You’ll learn what to do right away and what can wait. Find help on: • preparing for the job of executor or trustee • the first steps you should take after a loved one dies • claiming life insurance, Social Security, and other benefits • making sense of a will, and what to do if there is no will • how to determine whether probate is necessary • filing taxes • managing assets inherited by a minor child • probate court proceedings • handling simple trusts, and • working with lawyers, appraisers, accountants, and other experts. The 10th edition of The Executor's Guide contains updated tables that outline the key points of each state's laws. It also provides the latest information on estate tax laws. With Downloadable Worksheets: download and customize worksheets detailing information executors need to get organized, including an inventory of assets and debts (details inside).