Get Organized to be an Executor to an Estate

If you’ve agreed to be an Executor for a loved one or friend, be prepared before you have to take on the job.

The first thing that will surprise you is how time-consuming the job is going to be. Think of your home life –the paperwork, bills, home ownership responsibilities, and the communications you have on a daily basis. Now double it, for the next 8-12 months, while the estate goes through probate.

The best way to stay organized as you sort through what you need to do is to get a portable filing system, a plastic box that holds hanging folders that you can get at any office supply store.

You’ll want to make and label files for medical bills, investments, utilities, credit report correspondence, probate lawyer correspondence, closed accounts, etc. This will make it so much easier to find things quickly when you have to put your hands on something that needs to be handled or followed up on.

Keep a journal and from the moment you start your executor duties. You’ll want to write down the names and contact information of people you need and become involved with, keep track of dates and conversations, burial and celebration of life plans, bills you pay, lists for things you need to take care of, and the phone calls you need to make.

Having those two organizational tools will go a long way to simplify and organize your job at hand.

If you need to help in getting organized, Debbie and KYSS can help you!