Top Tips for Executors

Posted by the Family Law team on 10th August 2016

Being  appointed the Executors of a Will can be a daunting task.

Here at Bennett Griffin, we have a team that specialises in Probate with many years of experience of estate administration. These are our top tips for anyone appointed as Executor under the terms of a Will;

Firstly – Do Not Panic !

Initially, the most important matter is to register the death – within five days. The funeral can then be arranged. However, apart from these matters and making sure that the assets of the estate, particularly the property, are secure and insured, there is nothing that needs to be done ‘yesterday’.

Think Logically

A lot of estate administration is what we all do in our day to day lives, completing forms, paying bills, making telephone calls and sending emails. Companies have specialist departments who deal with bereavement situations so they ask the right questions and will guide you through the process.  If you keep calm, everything will come together.

Keep Records

There can be a large amount of paperwork involved in dealing with an estate and keeping detailed organised records will make your life easier – it is almost impossible to remember everything.

Communicate

Keep interested parties up to date with progress even if there is nothing going on because you are waiting for others to come back to you. People will appreciate being kept in the loop and it shows that you are efficient and organised.

Use Professionals

Solicitors, estate agents, accountants – they are all there to do their job and to provide you with the assistance you need to carry out your role as Executor effectively. There are experts who specialise in every field so if you have foreign assets or missing beneficiaries, these matters can be dealt with however difficult they may first seem.

Finally – Do Not Be Afraid Ask For Help

The administration of an estate, especially a large complex one, can be daunting. Professionals such as our team here at Bennett Griffin can do as much or as little as you like to assist, so with our help, your job as Executor will be easier and less stressful.

For further information on how we can assist you in your role as Executor please contact the Probate team on 01903 229999 or have a look at the team profiles on the ‘Our Team’ page of our website.

The information contained in this article is for general guidance only and is not intended to be legal advice. Professional advice should always be taken on the application of the law in any particular situation.