You’re already going through a big loss. Maybe you were very close to your parent or maybe you were estranged. Either way, you are now suddenly in charge of executing their will and/or trust and distributing the estate. Paying bills, distributing assets, and a host of other activities need to be done.
You don’t have to deal with this by yourself. Let us help guide you with our Executor and Trustee Support Services.
We can get through this, together.
Service Options
Service options include the following (click on links to view details):
The First Few Months Service
There is a lot to do in the first few months as an executor/trustee. Get organized and reduce your stress (and the stress of the estate beneficiaries).
We guide you through the process of…
- Understanding your legal obligations
- Sorting through and organizing key documents and information
- Setting up an effective filing system
- Obtaining death certificates
- Finding and filing the will (if applicable)
- Locating the trust (if applicable)
- Getting a taxpayer ID number for the estate or trust
- Getting property in your name as trustee (if applicable)
- Identifying and notifying…
- Beneficiaries and heirs
- Federal, state, and county agencies
- Service providers
- Membership organizations
- Social media and email
- Charities and other organizations
- Communicating regularly with beneficiaries and other stakeholders
- Documenting key decisions and discussions
- Tracking action items
- Getting additional help when needed (taxes, accounting, investing, appraisals, legal advice, trust accounting, real estate maintenance, mediation)
The First Few Months Service includes:
- Weekly consultation / coaching with your Stewardship Coach for up to 2 months (in person or remote)
- File system and supplies (file box, file folders, file labels for 30 estate topics, and folder hangers)
- Sample file topics include: Appraisals, Bank Account – Estate, Bank Accounts – Personal, Bills – Paid, Bills – Unpaid, Contact Information, Correspondence with Beneficiaries, Death Certificates, Employment, Family Facts, Photos, and Historical Documents, Funeral and Cremation or Burial, Income Tax Returns – Estate, and much more
- Action item log template
- Decision log template
- Communication journal template
- Stakeholder list and contact information template
- Online client collaboration portal
Summarizing Estate Property and Debts Service
Finding and summarizing all of the estate assets, debts, title information, values, and appraisals can get messy real fast. Follow our step-by-step process to quickly organize and track estate property from beginning to end.
We guide you through the process of…
- Identifying and documenting estate property and debts
- Tracking down and summarizing how each asset was owned (titled)
- Determining which assets are subject to the terms of a trust and/or will
- Finding out which property may be subject to probate
- Assigning dollar values to estate property
- Understanding which property should be appraised and why
- Gathering and organizing key documents (title, bank statements, loan documents, appraisals, transfer documents, etc.)
- Claiming life insurance, Social Security, retirement plans, and other assets outside of a trust
- Documenting when, to whom, and how property is transferred to beneficiaries
- Tracking action items and decisions (with rationale)
- Getting additional help when needed (taxes, accounting, investing, appraisals, legal advice, trust accounting, real estate maintenance, mediation)
The Estate Property and Debts Service includes:
- Weekly consultation / coaching with your Stewardship Coach for 1 month (in person or remote)
- Estate Property Organizer
- Property worksheet
- Supplies (binder, dividers, document pouches, and thumb drive)
- Action item log template
- Decision log template
- Online client collaboration portal
- Executor reference textbook – over 500 pages in length (optional)
- Trustee reference textbook – almost 400 pages in length (optional)
Detailing Estate Income and Expenses Service
Identifying and tracking estate income and expenses can be overwhelming. Lots of questions come up in this area. Here are a few that need to be addressed:
- What are the estate’s income sources? How should they be managed?
- Which bills should have priority? Which ones should be delayed, and why?
- Which recurring bills should be terminated quickly? Which ones should continue until the very end, and why?
- How should bills be paid?
- And more questions!
We can help. We guide you through the process of…
- Searching for and summarizing income sources
- Setting up an estate or trust bank account
- Receiving estate income
- Identifying and prioritizing bills
- Creating an expense phase-out plan
- Establishing a record-keeping system
- Paying bills, debts, and claims
- Getting additional help when needed (taxes, accounting, investing, appraisals, legal advice, trust accounting, real estate maintenance, mediation)
The Detailing Estate Income and Expenses Service includes:
- Weekly consultation / coaching with your Stewardship Coach for up to 2 months (in person or remote)
- Estate Income / Expense Organizer
- Income and expense summary worksheet (with expense phase-out plan)
- Supplies (binder, dividers, document pouches, and thumb drive)
- Action item log template
- Decision log template
- Envelope binder with tabs for bills
- To be paid
- Paid invoices / receipts
- Online client collaboration portal
- Executor reference textbook – over 500 pages in length (optional)
- Trustee reference textbook – almost 400 pages in length (optional)
Documentation Service
We can help you track action items and document:
- Key decisions and discussions
- Communication with beneficiaries, service providers, and Federal, state, county agencies
- Estate property and debts summary
- Estate income and expenses details.
Documentation service hours are estimated based on initial discussions with you. Additional hours can be purchased as needed.
How We Work Together
You may wonder what it’s like working together with Family Stewardship Services. Below is a general framework that we use:
Initial ConsultationDuring your initial consultation with us, we find out more about your needs and you find out more about our services and availability. During this meeting, or afterwards, you decide if our services are a fit for you.
When you choose to engage us in Executor and Trustee Support Services, we will coordinate our calendars, schedule your coaching sessions, set up your online client portal, and send you supplies relating to your service(s). Then we’ll meet to help you on your way to being a confident and equipped executor/trustee.
Let’s get started
Contact us for a free initial consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.