If you are down to execute someone’s estate, the probate process will take up a considerable chunk of your time. There is only so much you can do to make it happen faster, despite how impatient some beneficiaries may get to receive the things left to them.
Beneficiaries need to understand that you cannot put your whole life on hold for this one thing, however important it is. You may still need to go to work, spend time with your family and do all those other things you would do in a normal week.
What you can do, however, is strive to be as efficient as possible. Here are some ways to achieve this:
Start by making some lists
It is easy to overlook tasks when executing an estate, especially if you have never done it before. Making a list of jobs to work through is a good start. You’ll also need lists of other things, such as creditors, beneficiaries and assets to ensure you account for everything and keep everyone informed about what they need to know.
Ask for help
While the deceased chose you to take charge of executing their estate, they did not expect you to do it all yourself. They chose you to head things up because they trusted you, and part of that trust was trusting you to ask for help when needed. You could seek help from various people. For example, the family of the deceased could help you pinpoint assets, an expert in a particular field, say antique furniture, could help you value relevant items.
Above all, you can seek the help of a legal team to help you understand the steps to take and the laws you must abide by.