When someone dies (referred to as a "Decedent"), the Decedent's surviving family members and/or friends need to gather up the Decedent's assets, pay any debts and expenses, and distribute the Decedent's remaining property to the proper beneficiaries. In many cases, tax issues will need to be addressed. Different procedures will be required, depending on the type of assets that the Decedent owned, the specific details of the Decedent's estate plan, and the circumstances that exist at the time of death. The Survivor Checklist helps you organize the Decedent's personal, legal, and financial information for the benefit of the persons who will be responsible for handling the estate, often a close family member and a lawyer. The family member is often appointed as the "Executor," "Administrator," or "Personal Representative" in accordance with formal probate proceedings. This program uses the familiar term "Executor." This program assumes that the Decedent had a written will that might be "admitted to probate" so that the Decedent's wishes as stated in the will can be followed. It is not always necessary to use probate to accomplish the Decedent's estate plan, and an attorney can help you with that decision. The information gathered by using this Survivor Checklist is also helpful where the Decedent did not have a will. For example, if the Decedent used a living trust instead of a regular will to state his/her wishes, this checklist would also be helpful for that situation. |