IN THIS PART …

Address the immediate concerns after death, including planning the funeral, finding the will, and creating calendars and files for the estate.

Know how to deal with the probate court, if necessary, including filing the will, having the will admitted to probate, and appointing the executor or administrator.

Locate everything the decedent owned and safeguard and liquidate assets where appropriate. Also find out how to secure a property appraisal and prepare the probate inventory.

Identify all the decedent’s debts and set about prioritizing and paying them. Also get advice on dividing and distributing personal property and the rest of the decedent’s assets.

Close the estate, including gathering all the necessary documentation, paying the final administration expenses, and dealing with after-discovered assets.