What You Need to Know About Managing Your Loved One’s Estate

Managing a loved one’s personal affairs after they die can feel overwhelming, especially on top of grief. There are usually several tasks that need attention after the funeral, and the process can be complex and time-consuming. Keeping a simple checklist helps make settling an estate more manageable.

In most cases, planning the funeral takes priority, with estate matters following afterward. A few things do need immediate attention, like arranging care for dependents or pets and securing the home, but most of the broader estate work unfolds over a period of roughly six to eighteen months.

What Does an Executor Do?

The executor is the person responsible for managing a decedent’s legal and financial affairs and making sure assets and property are distributed according to the will. It’s a significant responsibility, but the person taking it on doesn’t need to be an expert in estate law or accounting. Outside professional help, like an estate attorney or accountant, is often brought in to help see things through.

First Things First: Within the First Week

• Inform family members and close friends.
• Notify employers and/or business partners.
• Locate the deceased person’s will or estate planning documents.
• Secure the deceased person’s home and assets.
• Order multiple copies of the death certificate.

Executor Tasks in the First Month

• Review the will or estate plan and determine whether you’ll need help from a lawyer or financial professional.
• Conduct a full inventory of estate assets and property, securing valuable items as needed.
• Keep things running smoothly: pay recurring bills, and protect and maintain any unoccupied property.
• Provide the court with a copy of the will.
• Notify the Social Security Administration.
• Publish a public notice of death, if required in your area.

Executor Tasks in the First Three Months

• Begin the probate process, if applicable.
• Appraise the estate to determine all assets and liabilities.
• Notify the deceased person’s heirs.
• Notify creditors.
• Notify life insurance, financial services, retirement, and other relevant agencies.
• Manage the estate: open an estate account, distribute property, pay debts and taxes, resolve disputes, and finalize the closeout process.

What to Do If There’s No Will

Settling an estate without a will in place, known as dying intestate, generally takes longer and can be more expensive, sometimes costing several thousand dollars in attorney fees depending on the complexity of the estate and the state’s probate process. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s worth looking into county-specific probate guidance and consulting a probate attorney early, since intestate succession laws vary by state and determine how assets are divided among surviving family members.

The Bottom Line

Being an executor takes organization and steady communication, whether you’re doing it for the first time or you’ve handled it before. Breaking the work into a simple timeline, secure the essentials in the first week, handle the paperwork and notifications in the first month, and move into probate and estate management over the following months, makes a genuinely difficult job more manageable.