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The Responsibilities of the Personal Representative

As Personal Representative of the Estate of the Deceased, you are faced with the responsibility of distributing the assets of the estate in accordance with the wishes of the deceased, and, perhaps more importantly, in accordance with the laws of the state.  Some of the responsibilities of a Personal Representative include:

Handling the Legal Paperwork:

• Obtaining the Will and copies of the death certificate;
• Find the beneficiaries named in the Will and all other people who must be notified about the Will;
• Determining if there are any probate assets and filing a petition with the probate court;
• Identify, gather, and inventory the assets of the deceased;
• Give legal notice to potential creditors;
• Investigate the validity of all claims against the estate;

Managing the Financial Obligations:

• Receive payments due the estate, including interest, dividends, and other income (e.g., unpaid salary, vacation pay, and other company benefits);
• Set up a checking account for the estate;
• Value or appraise the estate's assets;
• Pay funeral bills, outstanding debts, and valid claims;
• Pay the expenses of administrating the estate;
• Handle various paperwork, such as discontinuing utilities and charge cards, and notifying Social Security, Civil Service, and Veterans Administration of the death;
• File and pay income and estate taxes;

Settling the Estate:

• Distribute the remaining property in accordance with the instructions provided in the deceased's Will; and
• Close probate.

Our mission at EstateLink LLC is to lighten this burden by providing you with access to the tools you need to simplify your task, and to ensure that your obligations are fulfilled exactly as the law and the wishes of the deceased require.