The Executor's Handbook, Third Edition is a step-by-step guide to settling an estate for personal representatives, administrators, and beneficiaries.

Readers say it best: "This book covers all aspects of estate settlement in a complete and thorough manner.", "The book is written in easy-to-understand terms, with lots of good practical advice.", "I actually bought it to place in my file cabinet along with my Trust documents, Living Will and other documents", "We liked it so much, I bought this book for a friend who was handling a new estate." Acting as the executor, representative, or administrator of an estate is a complicated and time-consuming task, not only in an administrative sense but often in an emotional sense as well. The Executor’s Handbook, Fourth Edition is a comprehensive guide for readers who need help understanding the basics of the procedures that settle an estate. In practical and straightforward language, it covers all aspects of estate administration, including funeral arrangements, organ donation, administering probate, dealing with the deceased's assets and liabilities, and personal representative's compensation. You will understand not only your responsibilities but the responsibilities of those who will be assisting you. Tables of state income tax rates, intestacy laws, and state-by-state probate requirements are also included, and a glossary, index, and list of recommended works complete this handbook.

Many of you, regardless of your feelings on the matter, will eventually be appointed as executor of your parents’, spouse’s, or another’s estate. Just calling an attorney isn’t enough. Settling a decedent’s estate may require the combined expertise of accountants, appraisers, auctioneers, realtors, bankers, brokers, insurance companies, a myriad of bureaucrats, and, yes, even lawyers. Where do you start? How do you empty a house crammed with a lifetime’s worth of knick-knacks, bad art, and unopened mail? How do you deal with long-lost relatives who think you’re taking too long or charging too much? And how do you oversee those professionals who know so much more than you about the process? The Essential Executor’s Handbook not only explains the steps involved in settling an estate, but it shows you how to get all these professionals to do the work for you. You will learn everything you need to know about the basic laws and procedures involved; all the legal definitions you could possibly want; and why each professional is necessary, what they do, what they charge, and where to find them. No matter how little you know about law, accounting, and the rest, The Essential Executor’s Handbook will lead you by the hand through the settlement process.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Settling a Loved One's Estate You?ve lost someone close to you, and now you?ve been named the executor of the estate. What does that entail? What does that even mean? The Complete Executor's Guidebook takes you step-by-step through the confusing probate process from start to finish. This book explains everything you need to know to successfully serve as an executor of an estate in a simple, easy-to-understand way. --I?m not a lawyer. What do all of these words mean? --Do I have to be the executor of an estate if I?m named, or can I turn it down? --What exactly does an executor have to do? --What if I make a mistake? --Can I get in trouble? --How long will the entire process take? --Will I get paid for being an executor? --What if there is something wrong with the will? --What if there isn?t a will at all? The Complete Executor's Guidebook will help you through the entire process and keep you from making some very costly mistakes. This is the best book to give you the legal support you need at a time when you need it the most. ?This easy to read, well-organized and practical guide for executors is...written from personal experience by an estate planning attorney who knows his stuff.? -John Palmer, Host, The Prudent Advisor, Retirement Living Television and former news anchor, The Today Show

David Edey wants to save you a lot of trouble! In this self-help book he clearly, concisely, and repeatedly explains why it is important that every individual appoint an executor of their estate; what it means to be an executor of an estate; and how having a knowledgeable and responsible executor can help ensure a family’s wealth, welfare, health, and future happiness. The book is filled with advice, tips, and many real-life examples demonstrating what can go wrong (and what can go right), depending on whether or not families plan accordingly in advance, communicate clearly with one another, and are willing to put petty and selfish differences aside. No one likes talking about death and inheritances before they absolutely have to, but as Edey learned from personal experience, having these conversations earlier, rather than later, will save a lot of time and money, alleviate a ton of stress and ill feeling, and ensure that the deceased’s wishes are properly and efficiently carried out.