What Can An Executor Do If You Die Without A Will?Posted by smith clea on August 9th, 2022 What can an executor do if you don’t have a will? An executor is someone named in your will to carry out your wishes. They’re granted the legal authority to act on your behalf after you die. But what happens if you don’t have a will? The Probate ProcessWhen someone dies without a will, their estate goes through the probate process. The first step is to file a petition with the court. Then, the court will appoint an executor. The executor's job is to gather the deceased person's assets, pay their debts, and distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries. The whole process can take months or even years, so it's important to choose an executor you trust. To ensure your wishes are fulfilled as best as possible, it's best to have a legal professional draw up your will beforehand. However, if you do not have a will then these are some options for what an executor can do:
The Benefits Of Having A Trust
An executor is a person designated by the individual or couple to oversee assets, debts, taxes, and other responsibilities of an estate. It's important to consider appointing an executor who will have no vested interest in the matter at hand. When it comes time for someone without a will to pass away, a court will appoint an administrator as well as determine how property should be distributed among heirs if no children or spouses are living. If the deceased has a spouse but no children, then the surviving spouse inherits everything. If there are one or more children, then they would receive everything with any remainder going to their issue. If there is only one child with one child from another marriage (step-child), then half of the estate goes to each child. This includes any legacies made before death. The above notwithstanding, anything left over goes to parents and/or grandparents. However, if there are no parents or grandparents, the funds go to brothers and sisters. But what if there are none? The funds go to nieces and nephews. About The AuthorClea Smith is a USA-based author on Legal issues related to estate planning, will & trust, business law, and elder law. Clea Smith does her best writing on these topics that help users to find the best solutions to their FAQ on estate planning attorney, probate, living trust vs will, and more about legal family issues. Like it? Share it!More by this author |