Being an estate executor can feel overwhelming. A loved one trusted you to carry out their wishes upon their passing. Naturally, you want to make sure that you’re fulfilling this duty to the best of your ability. Where do you begin?

First, and most importantly, take a moment to reflect. Your loved one chose you as their estate executor for a reason—you can do this.

Then, remember that every estate looks different, so there is no one-size-fits-all checklist that every estate executor can follow. However, we’ve put together some suggestions for the first steps all estate executors should take.

Establish a record-keeping process.
You will want to ensure that you are recording the amount of time that you are spending working on the estate, the activities that you are doing, and the costs that you are incurring. You should keep these records as thoroughly as possible for as long as you are working on the estate. You may need them later on for compensation, tax purposes, or court purposes.
Determine whether the deceased had a will.
If they did have one, locate it and review it. At this point, don’t worry if you’re not sure what everything means. Just ensure that you are the estate executor, and check if the deceased left specific instructions for their funeral and/or burial.
If applicable, plan the funeral and/or burial for the deceased.
Obtain a death certificate for the deceased.
Ensure that the provider gives you multiple originals. This step is important, as many of the people and organizations that you work with as an estate executor will require an original death certificate.
Secure the deceased’s assets. If possible, prepare an inventory of assets.
This step is especially urgent if the assets are valuable, perishable, or “mobile” (pets, livestock, etc.). Ensure that these assets are properly secured, and insured if necessary, for the duration of the estate administration. You may wish to have certain assets valuated.
Gather information about the trustees and beneficiaries of the estate.
You will want to ensure that you set up an open line of communication with the trustees and beneficiaries for the duration of the estate administration process. Begin by collecting the full legal names, dates of birth, and contact information of all trustees and beneficiaries.
Retain a lawyer.
They will be able to explain many estate administration matters, like your role as estate executor, the validity and interpretation of the will, the probate of the will, deadlines, and so on. As a professional with estate experience, the lawyer can also guide you in the right direction when it comes to your next steps.
Seek financial advice.
A financial advisor will be able to help you with the specifics of managing the deceased’s finances, taxes, and so on.

From here, you will be able to get into the “nitty-gritty” of estate administration. There will be many more steps that become clear to you throughout the estate administration process—like managing the deceased’s finances, handling the estate administration tax, and ultimately, distributing the assets in the estate—but these steps should give you a strong foundation to guide you through the process.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive guide; it simply covers the steps that you should take to get started. If you are looking for more information, please feel free to contact our office.