Executors & Settling an Estate
A practical guide for executors and administrators: getting appointed, letters testamentary, opening an estate account, handling a house, a car, and joint accounts, paying debts, executor pay, and closing the estate. Steps vary by state.
All Executors & Settling an Estate guides
- What Are Letters Testamentary and How Do You Get Them?
Letters testamentary are the probate court's official authorization for an executor to act for an estate — here is what they are and how to get them.
- How to Open an Estate Bank Account
How executors open a dedicated estate bank account: what you need, how to get an estate EIN from the IRS, and how to use the account correctly.
- What Happens to a Car After the Owner Dies?
A car becomes part of the deceased's estate and transfers through state DMV title procedures — here is how it works and what steps to take.
- Selling a House During Probate
Selling estate real property during probate is possible but requires legal authority, often court approval, and following state-specific procedures.
- What Does an Executor Do? Duties and Responsibilities
An executor has a legal duty to inventory assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute the estate. Learn what the role requires and what can go wrong.
- What Happens to a Joint Bank Account When Someone Dies?
Most joint bank accounts pass to the surviving co-owner at death, bypassing probate entirely — here is what to do and what to watch out for.
- How to Settle an Estate: A Step-by-Step Guide for Executors
A practical checklist for executors: secure assets, get letters, open an estate account, inventory, pay debts, and distribute — step by step.
- Ancillary Probate: When the Deceased Owned Property in Another State
When a deceased person owned real estate in more than one state, a separate probate proceeding — ancillary probate — may be required in each state.
- What Happens to a House in Probate?
When someone dies owning a home alone, it typically must pass through probate court before heirs can receive or sell it. Here is what to expect at each step.
- How to Become the Executor or Administrator of an Estate
Learn how to become executor or administrator: getting court-appointed, letters testamentary, who has priority, and your duties once appointed.
- How Much Is an Executor Paid?
Executor fees depend on state law—here's how compensation is calculated, who approves it, and what beneficiaries can do if fees seem excessive.
- When an Estate Can't Pay Its Debts: Insolvent Estates
When a deceased person's debts exceed their assets, the estate is insolvent. Here's who gets paid first, what heirs inherit, and what executors must do.
- Dealing With a Loved One's Debts After Death
The estate pays a deceased person's debts before heirs receive anything. Learn how creditor claims work and when heirs can be held personally liable.