Responsibilities of an estate administrator/lawyer

If you have been named the executor of a loved one’s will it is important that you fulfill all your responsibilities within the scope of Ohio law. Although an experienced wills lawyer can help guide you through this hard time, it is ultimately you who is going to ensure that your family member’s assets are distributed exactly according to their wishes.

It is important to remember that the specifics can vary greatly depending upon the size of the estate and other factors like the contents of an estate plan, according to experts in family law in Cleveland, here is what you should do:

·         File the essential paperwork with the probate court. Do remember that this can vary from country to county; therefore check with the local probate court to learn about what is required in court.  There is no legal time frame for how soon you should file the legal paperwork after someone’s death but it should be done in timely manner. Also consider securing the executor/administrator bond, which is required by most courts.

·         Within three months of opening the estate, you will need to file and categorize all your loved one’s belongings and their value. Experts in family law in Cleveland also recommend securing any necessary appraisals.

·         Clear all outstanding bills like credit cards, medical bills, and income taxes.

·         Pay the appropriate estate tax. This step is quite important if you wish to avoid all trouble and hassles later.

·         Once the estate administration is completed, file a final account with the probate court and any other necessary paperwork to close the estate. Remember that this should share the details of all receipts and disbursements.

Becoming an estate administrator is a significant responsibility and more than often, it can be more complicated than it seems. It can be quite overwhelming to handle all the legal requirements while simultaneously dealing with the loss of a loved one. To bar your emotions from overshadowing your decisions, do remember to hire the right team of estate administration lawyers.

The most important part here is to ensure that all the legal requirements are met within the provided deadlines. Failing to meet the deadlines could cause a lot of trouble as local estate administration laws are typically strict. It is a good idea to get in touch with an estate administration lawyer as soon as possible if you are named an executor. Click here for more information.