As you work with your attorney to craft your estate plan, there are many important points to consider. One such point is the selection of a personal representative. The personal representative is responsible for overseeing and carrying out the administration of your estate after you die. In order to choose the right person for this important role, it is crucial to understand all of the duties that accompany the appointment.
6 Duties of a Personal Representative During Estate Administration
What are some of the duties of a personal representative? The following is an overview:
- Identifying the assets of the estate. While you can make this job easier on your personal representative by keeping accurate and easily accessible records, the person that you choose must be willing to do some investigating to ensure that all assets are identified.
- Providing notice to creditors and other interested parties. Your personal representative must communicate with parties who have an interest in your estate. Select someone with good communication skills.
- Providing an accounting of the financial activity relating to the estate administration. It is important for your personal representative to be detail oriented and organized.
- Preparing and filing all tax returns. This is an important duty of a personal representative and must not be taken lightly. Your personal representative should feel comfortable reaching out to attorneys and accountants for assistance with this responsibility.
- Distributing the assets of the estate to the beneficiaries. Ultimately, the goal is for your assets to pass to the people you’ve designated to receive them. Your personal representative is responsible for fulfilling this task efficiently.
- Closing the estate. In order to complete the probate administration process, your representative must follow the procedures required by law to close the estate. Skipping steps can lead to issues and disputes later. Therefore, it is important to choose someone who is willing to fulfill the responsibility in the proper manner.
When creating your estate plan, you must select a personal representative. Choose a person who can handle the many responsibilities of the role. When it comes time to administer the trust or estate of your loved one, we are here to help. Contact us today at (714) 282-7488 for more information.