Don't make important decisions just because someone is pressuring you to make them quickly. Urgency from a beneficiary does not automatically mean the estate has an urgent deadline.

A. Very prepared B. I knew a little C. Completely unprepared D. I am named, but haven't had to serve yet

Being named Executor sounds important. Actually becoming the Executor can feel completely different. Suddenly you are looking at a Will, bills, bank statements, family questions and a house full of belongings wondering: What am I supposed to do first? You do not need to solve the entire estate today. Start with three questions: 1. What documents control? 2. What assets and debts exist? 3. What actually requires attention right now? Your first job is not distribution. It is information gathering. Once you know what you are dealing with, the rest of the process becomes much easier to organize. 💬 If you are currently serving, what was the very first task you tackled?

Let’s end the week with questions. What is one GENERAL question you have about: → Being an executor → Serving as trustee → Power of Attorney → Health care decision-making → Helping aging parents → Estate planning → Probate or trust administration Drop it below. Please leave out names, account information, medical details, or anything else private. I’ll answer a few here in the community — and some may become topics for future Trustee School Office Hours or new resources. And yes: “There is a document with my name on it and I have absolutely no idea what it means” is a perfectly acceptable starting point. 😄