An executor helps manage your estate after you pass away. The job of the executor of a Will or probate is to make sure that debts are paid, bills are settled, and property is distributed according to the wishes of the estate. An executor’s job can be complicated. Your Will may name several people as co-executors of your estate. People who serve in this capacity are often called “co-executors” or “co-administrators.”
The trustee manages the property and assets that are in the estate during the probate process. While a trustee and a guardian are both appointed by the probate court, an executor is chosen by the deceased. No matter what role you would like to play in your loved one’s estate administration, it is important to understand their responsibilities before taking them on.
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The Important Role of an Estate Executor
Estate executors are responsible for administering the estate of the deceased individual. An executor is a person named in a Will to be responsible for carrying out the wishes of the deceased as outlined in their will. The estate includes all of the personal and real property owned by the deceased individual. Should you decide to agree to your appointment as an estate administrator, you will become part of the probate process.
The end goal of the executor is to distribute the assets of the estate to the beneficiaries named in the will. Estate executors have a legal duty to act in the best interest of the deceased individual and the beneficiaries who will inherit the assets of the estate.
Practically speaking, estate executors are responsible for taking the following actions on behalf of the estate:
- Filing the probate court paperwork
- Overseeing the probate process
- Managing the assets of the deceased
- Providing notice to creditors and the beneficiaries of the estate
- Paying the bills of the estate and creditors of the estate
- Defending the will against the validity of the will and lawsuits
If you are an executor of an estate and need immediate money to handle the estate, we do have a special executor advance program that can help.
Guardianship of a Child or Children
Courts will appoint a guardian of incapacitated adults and minors circumstantially when it is believed that it’s in the best interest of the individual to have a guardian look after affairs and finances. In many instances, parents nominate a guardian for their children upon their deaths in their will. When a child’s parents are mentally unfit or unable to care for a minor child, an adult may file a Petition for Guardianship. In the first circumstance, when parents pass away, the guardian steps into the probate process to make decisions on behalf of the minor. Similarly, a qualified adult may petition the court to become the guardian of an incapacitated adult. Courts have the authority to appoint guardians for adults who are incapacitated, disabled, mentally incompetent, or suffering from a disability that makes them unable to make their own decisions.
What is a guardian?
What are the qualifications and responsibilities of a guardian?
What is an heir?
What is a trustee?
A trustee is an individual or organization who manages assets in a trust. In most cases, the individual is named as the trustee of their own property. The trust document names the trustee as the manager of property for someone else.
Don’t Wait for Probate
Knowing the difference between a trustee, executor and guardian are important during the probate process
An executor is a person who oversees the distribution of an estate. They are in charge of making sure that any debts or taxes owed by the deceased are paid, and divvying up their assets to beneficiaries according to what they put in a will. A trustee manages property for someone else while ensuring it meets certain conditions set out in a trust agreement. Guardianship only applies when there’s no parent or guardian available to take care of children under 18 years old with disabilities.
A Final Word For Individuals In The Probate process
The death of a loved one can be devastating, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right preparation and planning, you may not only save your family some time and money during this difficult process but also ensure that everything runs smoothly for everyone involved. If you are looking for more information on how an executor or trustee differs from a guardian or heir, these posts will help explain their different roles in detail so that you can choose who is best qualified to take care of affairs after someone dies.
Many executors, trustees, and heirs find themself in a situation during probate where the estate, heirs or beneficiaries need immediate funds. Sadly, many assets get tied up in probate court which takes time to receive distributions. An inheritance advance is an option if you are an executor of an estate that needs immediate money. You can sign over a portion of the probated estate in return for immediate cash. Call us at Inheritance Advanced and we will be happy to help you in a professional and transparent fashion.
