Tips on Picking a Personal Representative

personal representative named in a Last Testament is allowed to be an out of state resident only if that individual is a blood relative or a relative through an existing marriage. If a representative does not satisfy this criteria, a person is still able to use an alternative to estate administration in the form of a trust. There are several important things that a person should consider when determining who should act as their personal representative.

 

Tip # 1 – Trust the Person that Is Chosen

 

The person that is selected to act as a personal representative must have the ability to complete a task accurately and efficiently. This element is important because personal representatives are given the duty of financial responsibility over a person’s estate. As a result, the person chosen to act as personal representative should have displayed the ability to be trustworthy through other examples in their life.

 

Tip # 2 – The Person Must Be Able to Carry the Responsibilities

 

Administering an estate can be a daunting task for a person. Many personal representatives are faced with a host of duties that they must perform. As a result, it is a wise idea to select someone that is prepared to handle the challenges of being a personal representative. As a result, the person chosen must be someone who is not daunted by having to perform multiple duties.

 

Tip # 3 – Understand the Duties That Must Be Performed by a Personal Representative

 

Before naming a person to act as a personal representative, an individual should understand the various duties that must be performed in this role. A person should select a personal representative who they are certain will be able to fulfill the tasks of a personal representative including:

 

  • Being able to file the appropriate document to close the estate proceedings in a court of law.
  • Creating an inventory in written form of the various assets in a person’s estate.
  • Determining whether the estate is large enough for the probate process based on the amount of assets left by the deceased person.
  • Filing paperwork with the appropriate court to begin the administration process.
  • Finding the original will and presenting it to a court of law.
  • Identifying any money that is owed to the deceased person’s estate.
  • Informing all involved financial institutions and creditors about the deceased person’s death.
  • Interacting with the Internal Revenue Service to file the deceased person’s final taxes.
  • Keeping very detailed records all things done with the estate.
  • Notifying all parties and companies that might have an interest in a person’s estate.
  • Re-registering assets in the name of an estate.

Contact a Knowledgeable Estate Planning Attorney

Picking a good personal representative is just one of the many elements involved in successful estate planning. Individuals who would like to create a strong estate plan should consider talking with an experienced estate planning attorney. Call us today to help you begin making sure that you have the strongest estate plan possible.

Contact Information