You were chosen to be the executor of your mother’s Will. Everyone keeps telling you that you should feel honored, and a large part of you agrees with them — after all, you love your mother and would do anything to follow through with her final wishes. That said, you cannot help but be a tad overwhelmed by the responsibility. You may even question if you are the right person for the job.

We will not sugarcoat that a lot can be expected of an executor of a Will. A few of their duties include clearly understanding what assets are in the estate, paying bills, taxes, and funeral expenses, and filing necessary tax reports.

If that were not enough, the executor must also identify proper beneficiaries and distribute the estate according to the terms of the Will.

Whew! That is a lot of responsibility. Nevertheless, serving in this capacity is a wonderful opportunity.

5 reasons why you should want to serve as the executor of a Will

  1. Being an executor is an honor — The person who created the Will must select the right person as the executor. This decision should not be taken lightly; it likely took plenty of time and soul-searching to reach this conclusion. Once you are chosen, it is important that you view this new role as a compliment from someone who trusts in your abilities and sees you as ethical, honest, and detail-oriented. 
  2. You will know the estate was handled properly — Since you are ethical, honest, and detail-oriented, you will have a sense of pride in the role and a desire to see everything through to completion. Sure, you may be learning as you go, and that is to be expected from a first-time executor. That said, there will not be any questions as to whether or not everything was handled properly. 
  3. There is a fee — While you may not think about being paid for such a role, the reality is that executors do get paid. It is up to you whether you accept any money from the estate, but it is allowed by law.
  4. Being an executor may help with your grief — To piggyback on the second reason, having a hand in settling your loved one’s estate as the executor may help you stay busy and focus on your family and your loved one’s wishes.
  5. You do not have to do it alone — While you are the sole executor of a Will, no one said you cannot ask for help and guidance from professionals who work with estate administration all the time. You can hire someone to help you with the heavy lifting and deal with matters beyond your capabilities. You can pay them through the estate.

Call Leigh Hilton PLLC today!!

Call Leigh Hilton PLLC in Denton, and we will help walk you through your estate planning needs. We have ample experience and will take into consideration your particular situation. Proper planning of an estate, whether through a Will, Trust, or both, helps ensure your wishes are carried out. 

Leigh Hilton PLLC wants to be your first call every time for any estate planning need. We look forward to serving you.

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