An estate representative is the person who is tasked with settling your affairs after you die. If this individual does a good job, it may be possible to get through probate in a timely manner and without any legal challenges. Therefore, it is important to think carefully before appointing someone to serve as the executor of your Tennessee will.
This person should have good communication skills
An executor will need to contact your bank, brokerage firm or any other company that you had accounts with at the time of your death to ensure that they are closed promptly. If you received government benefits at the time of your death, your executor will also need to make sure that future payments are cancelled. Finally, this person is tasked with handling creditor claims, contacting beneficiaries and staying in compliance with court orders throughout the probate process. An estate planning and administration attorney may be able to assist with these or other tasks.
An executor should have sufficient time to devote to the role
It isn’t uncommon for a probate proceeding to last for 12 to 18 months. Therefore, whoever serves as the executor of your estate will need to devote significant time to ensuring that your affairs are settled properly. If necessary, you can appoint multiple parties to represent specific portions of your estate to make the job easier for everyone involved.
If you have any questions about the estate planning process, an attorney may be able to answer them. A legal professional may also be able to review a will, trust or other estate plan documents to ensure that they meet your needs. If necessary, your legal representative might be able to draft new documents or make changes to those that are already in existence.
