Estate planning takes many steps to ensure that things go smoothly in the future. It is crucial to do this carefully so that all of your intentions are correctly fulfilled. We are often asked, “What should you prepare for your executor?” Here are some things you can do to prepare your affairs for your executor as part of your executor checklist.
Get As Organized As Possible
Executors appreciate a well-organized, detailed estate. This makes their job easier and leaves less room for errors to happen. Therefore, you need to leave things as documented and organized as possible.
You should memorialize in one place a list of important information as part of your executor checklist, including:
- Assets, debts, and liabilities
- Accounts and passwords
- Contact information for professional advisers such as attorneys and accountants
Discuss Your Estate With Your Family
Often, families and loved ones have no idea what is actually contained in a will. Sometimes, there are nasty surprises that create a lot of drama in a family already having a hard time dealing with the death of a loved one.
You should have detailed conversations with your estate planning beneficiaries to prevent this. Inform them about what you plan to do with things like real estate and family heirlooms. After all, keeping the peace among your survivors after you are gone is preferable.
Write Out Your Objectives
Power of attorney agents and executors are not mind-readers. However, if you write out a letter of direction to explain your wishes as part of your executor checklist, it is easier for the executor to carry things out more precisely. That way, they can better understand the emotion behind your intentions and enact them in a way that would make you happy.
Albany Estate Planning
If you need help with estate plan review, drafting your last will and testament or your estate or aren’t sure what you should prepare for your executor, call our compassionate Albany estate planning lawyers.
