The loss of a loved one can deal a massive blow to a family. And if the loved one was a prominent figure in your family lines, like the sole provider for several family members, it can seem that life will come to a standstill with their death. But this does not have to be the case. When an individual dies, one person will be appointed to be the executor of the deceased estate. The primary role of the executor is to handle the administration of assets such as properties, investments, vehicles, shares and so on. Moreover, the executor will also be in charge of administrating any liabilities that the deceased person may have left behind, such as debts. If you are taking on this role for the first time, you undoubtedly will have a myriad of questions regarding the process. To help you manage your expectations, here are some of your duties when it comes to deceased estate administration.

An executor will collect all pertinent information regarding the deceased estate

One of the primary duties that you will have to carry out as the executor of a deceased estate is to gather all relevant information. First off, you would be responsible for finding your deceased loved one's will. If they did not write one beforehand, you will have to relay this information to all parties involved. Secondly, you will be responsible for pinpointing all the beneficiaries that were identified by the deceased party. If they did not have a will, you will be in charge of listing all potential heirs to the deceased estate. Lastly, you will be tasked with taking inventory of all the assets that the deceased estate consists of. Take note that, while the deceased loved one should have an exhaustive list of all their assets, it is not uncommon to find that some assets such as retirement accounts, heirlooms and more have been left out.

An executor will inform all relevant parties and apply for a grant of probate 

Once you have all the pertinent information regarding the deceased estate, you will have to hire a wills and estate lawyer so that they can apply for a grant of probate with the courts. At this juncture, you need to inform all beneficiaries or heirs so that they can be present in court. A grant of probate functions to legally recognise the appointment of the executor while also establishing that the will of the deceased individuals is both recent and lawful. If anyone has disputes with the administration with the deceased estate, perhaps an ex-spouse, a sibling and so on, they can challenge the will in two main ways. First, they could opt for mediation with the other beneficiaries with the hopes of coming to a favourable conclusion. Second, they could apply to the court to contest the will.