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

by Mary Randolph J.D., Jennie Lin J.D.

Overview

 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).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413331745
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	06/25/2024
Edition description:	Tenth Edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Mary Randolph earned her law degree from The Universityof California, Berkeley, School of Law. She is the author of The Executor's Guide: Settling Your Loved One's Estate or Trust, and 8 Ways to Avoid Probate. Randolph is also a coauthor of the legal manual for Quicken WillMaker. She has been a guest on The Today Show and has been interviewed by many publications, including The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more.

Jennie Lin is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a member of the New York State Bar. She is a Legal Editor at Nolo, where she has written and edited several estate planning books. She also works on Nolo's bestselling estate planning tool, Quicken WillMaker & Trust.

Table of Contents

Part I Getting Ready 1. Overview 2. If You're Asked to Be an Executor or Trustee Part II First Steps 3. The First Week 4. The First Month 5. Claiming Life Insurance, Social Security, and Other Benefits Part III Taking Care of the Estate 6. Making Sense of the Will 7. If There's No Will 8. Taking Inventory 9. Managing Assets and Paying Bills 10. Caring for Children and Their Property 11. Taxes Part IV Transferring Property 12. Property That Doesn't Go Through Probate 13. Transferring Joint Tenancy and Other Survivorship Property 14. Transferring Community Property 15. Claiming Money in Retirement Plans 16. Claiming Payable-on-Death Assets 17. Special Procedures for Small Estates 18. The Regular Probate Process Part V Handling Trusts 19. Wrapping Up a Simple Living Trust 20. Managing a Child's Trust Part VI Getting More Help 21. Finding More Information 22. Lawyers and Other Experts G. Glossary A. Appendix: State Information Index

What People are Saying About This

Beth Fenner

"The Executor's Guide [is] a super-detailed, step-by-step book that's a must-read."
— Beth Fenner, CNN "More Money" blog

Editorial Reviews

"Mary Randolph, an editor at Nolo, a publisher of do-it-yourself legal guides and author of The Executor's Guide, says it is a good idea to get a lawyer to help unwind a trust, especially if it will hold a significant amount of money. Trust owners can take some steps on their own—for example, going to a bank to change ownership of a trust-owned bank account back into their names as individuals. But if the trust holds a business or another asset, that could be more complicated. "If you've got some money to spend on attorney fees—and most people who have created AB trusts do—it can save you a lot of trouble later, Ms. Randolph says." Wall Street Journal

"Covers the gamut of estate chores and helps you get through them." Kiplinger's Retirement Report

"Explains how to find state-specific information, and an appendix sorts legalities by state." Miami Herald

"Provides a guide for executors and trustees, describing legal procedures and terminology, what to expect, decisions that will need to be made, and questions to ask." Reference & Research Book News

"The Executor's Guide [is] a super-detailed, step-by-step book that's a must-read."Beth Fenner, CNN "More Money" blog

"The Executor's Guide leads readers through the process of what they must do if they are named as executor. In a nutshell, they must gather the deceased person's assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute what's left. This book helps them know what to expect, what decisions they will need to make, when to get help, and what questions to ask. One very important part of the job is dealing with family members. They'll want to know what's happening, which means they may have to field a lot of anxious questions. Why is it taking so long to distribute the assets? Shouldn't you sell Dad's stock (or car or house) before its value drops? Why can't I take the rocking chair Mother always told me she wanted me to have? What are you going to do about Mom's sister, who's taking things from the house?Savannah Jones, SirReadaLot.org

From the Publisher

"Covers the gamut of estate chores and helps you get through them."

Kiplinger's Retirement Report

"Explains how to find state-specific information, and an appendix sorts legalities by state."

Miami Herald

"Provides a guide for executors and trustees, describing legal procedures and terminology, what to expect, decisions that will need to be made, and questions to ask."

Reference & Research Book News