Probate Planning Checklist

Losing a parent or someone close to you can be tough. Alongside dealing with the sadness, there are practical things you must take care of, like arranging the funeral, getting death certificates, and sorting out their belongings and money.

This short, basic guide helps you understand what needs to be done when someone passes away, especially if you're the person in charge of handling their estate, which is called the Executor or Personal Representative.

The Basics

The Executor's job is to handle the logistics of the person who passed away left behind. This includes paying off any debts, giving out their belongings to the right people or arranging for the sale of real estate and personal belongings, and doing all the necessary paperwork. Here's a simple breakdown of what needs to be done:

Arrange Funeral: Plan the funeral or cremation, let people know, and get death certificates.
Take Inventory: Find and list everything the person owned and owed.
Become Executor: If needed, get officially appointed by the court.
Send Notifications: Tell important people and organizations about the death.
Manage Estate: Look after the stuff left behind and decide what to do with it.
Resolve Debts: Pay off any debts or decide to settle them.
File Taxes: Fill out and send in all the necessary tax forms.
Make Distributions: Give out what's left to the people who should get it.
Wrap It Up: Finish all the paperwork and make sure everything's settled, especially if going through probate.

Legal Assistance: Consider hiring a probate attorney if you need help navigating the legal aspects of managing the estate, especially if the situation involves complexities or disputes.

Here at Florida Probate Care, we have an extensive database of referrals.