One of the single most important estate planning choices that you will make is to select your executor.
It is only a very small exaggeration to state that the executor of an estate is the person who is in charge of everything. He or she can either determine whether an estate administration will go smoothly or terribly.
True, there are others who will have a hand in determining how the estate administration goes, but for the most part, it will be all up to the executor.
It is the executor who will have to make the biggest decisions and, unless someone complains, there will be little oversight from busy probate courts.
That means you need to choose the executor of your estate carefully, as the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog discussed in “Selecting an Executor for Your Estate.”
You need an executor who is trustworthy, understands financial matters, has the time to do the job properly, is willing to do the job, is patient and will seek the advice of experts when necessary.
Finding someone who meets all of those qualifications can be a challenging task for many people. However, it is necessary if you want your estate administration to go smoothly.
Fortunately, if you do not have a friend or family member who fits the bill, there is someone you probably know who can help steer you in the right direction.
Your estate planning attorney might also agree to be your executor. If not, then the attorney probably knows other people in the area who are willing to serve as professional estate executors.
Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (July 13, 2017) “Selecting an Executor for Your Estate.”
