The Executor's Handbook

by Hughes, Theodore E.

• ISBN13: 9780816066681
• ISBN10: 081606668X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-06-01
• Publisher: Checkmark Books

Summary

Without the right information, settling an estate after a loved one has died can be a difficult and complicated experience. The Executor's Handbook, Third Edition provides everything you need to understand the role of executor, decide if you are the right person for the job, and determine the best course of action during a difficult time. From the provisions of a will to key legal terms to liquidating assets, this volume explains all aspects of an executor's duties.

Author Biography

Theodore E. Hughes, Michigan Assistant Attorney General for Law David Klein was professor emeritus of social sciences at Michigan State University

Table of Contents

Tables	p. vii
Figures	p. ix
A Note to the Reader	p. xi
The Role of the Executor
When Death Occurs	p. 3
Becoming an Executor	p. 11
Strategies Before Death	p. 29
First Things First
Wills, Organ Donations, and Funerals	p. 61
Sorting the Assets and Liabilities	p. 93
Probate Administration
Avoiding or Minimizing Probate	p. 121
Initiating Probate	p. 133
Creditors' Claims	p. 151
Taxes	p. 163
Managing, Distributing, and Closing the Probate Estate	p. 177
Special Situations
When There Is No Will	p. 199
Settling a Trust	p. 209
Protecting the Survivors	p. 223
Glossary	p. 235
Further Reading	p. 249
Index	p. 251
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Praise for the previous editions:
"Highly recommended..."—Library Journal
A step-by-step guide to settling an estate.
Settling an estate after a loved one has passed on can be a difficult and complicated experience if you don't have the right information. The Executor's Handbook, Third Edition acts as a step-by-step guide to settling an estate for personal representatives, administrators, and beneficiaries. It provides all the information necessary to understand the role of executor, to determine if you are the right person for the job, and to carry out the various functions. From the provisions of a will to key legal terms to liquidating assets, this volume explains all the aspects of an executor's duties.
All information in this edition has been thoroughly updated and revised to cover the latest rules and procedures. Updates include the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, which revised federal gift and estate tax law, as well as all state law tables.
New and updated coverage includes:
Death and burial benefits
Death without a will
First steps following death
Funeral, burial, and cremation
Income, estate, and inheritance taxes
Probate administrations
Protecting survivors
Settling a trust
and much more.