WSJ: Grief, Then Paperwork: The Messy, Thankless Job of an Estate Executor

After relatives die, there is a tedious, messy process of managing what they leave behind. Relationships can suffer in the aftermath.

The person designated to handle the estate—typically the executor named in the will—must determine what someone owned and owed, pay creditors and taxes, and distribute assets to heirs.

The job is often unwelcome, and sometimes comes as a surprise. 

When Greg Kern agreed to handle his father-in-law’s $430,000 estate last fall, he didn’t expect to spend 200-plus hours on it, or that there would be family drama over the house.

There are “still some raw feelings,” he said. “I didn’t know what I was in for.”

Many Americans underestimate the expense and time required. Often a lawyer is needed or a court has to oversee the process, which can cost thousands of dollars and take months or even years. If there is no will, extra costs and delays are common. 

Read the entire article here: https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/grief-then-paperwork-the-messy-thankless-job-of-an-estate-executor-6bb1e228?st=8u9ajqosh3k5473&reflink=article_gmail_share