The Executor's Guide: Settling a Loved One's Estate or Trust

The step-by-step guide to serving as an executor.

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.

A roadmap to follow. The Executor’s Guide will lead you 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 to take

claiming life insurance, Social Security and other benefits

making sense of a will

what to do if there is no will

how to determine whether probate is necessary

filing taxes

probate court proceedings

dealing with family members

handling simple trusts

working with lawyers, appraisers, accountants and other experts

State-specific information. The 6th edition contains updated tables outlining key points of each state’s laws, the latest information on estate taxes, plus worksheets that help you stay organized.