Need some estate executor advice

[Grifman]

If it was an attorney who notified you I would start with a visit to them.

My sister asked my permission before listing me as an executor. I didn’t find out until several years after my brother had been doing the job for my aunt that I was second on her list. She suffered a massive stroke that basically took 15 years to finally kill her. So he served as her executor for about 17 years.

Nope he was not executor for 15 years. An executor only has power after the death of the person and they control and manage the estate. Maybe he had power of attorney, but he was definitely not her executor, at least not before she died.

[Grifman]

You can get reimbursed from the estate for all your expenses and I think you can even pay yourself a "reasonable" rate for your time as well.

This is allowed but if someone wants to challenge your reimbursement and pay you had better have proof. Just saying.

An executor is allowed reasonable fees, based upon the state size, usually around 3 to 5% of the value of the estate, and the amount needs to approved by the court, but it can vary by state. Plus you can be reimbursed for expenses - gas, postage, etc.

[Grifman]

Apparently, I kick ass at this. The only person I need to contact is the car/homeowners insurance. Not having a tv and cutting yourself off from social media helps. Being completely out of my adhd meds helps a lot too. The realtor (that I have a handshake agreement with) has already shown the house to someone. I have a handshake with an estate sales manager, and I have to just take an oath in front of a judge and get my letter of superpowers. Then it's about two days of visiting the local bank, mailing physical copies, and emailing the rest., and selling the car.

With any kind of good luck, I might be out of here in a month or so.

Nope, you will need to file their last tax return, and either pay any taxes due from the estate or wait for a refund which will go to the estate. A lot of people forget about this.

[Default]

We each get 3% of the estate and reimbursed bills. We are both keeping receipts and will get our money back. Theoretically, I'll get 5% of the car sale. The tax accountant will probably end up doing final taxes. Once we have the court date (probably 2/14) we'll know more.

Most of the work is in Manila envelopes, with the forms I have received. Paper mail will go out the day after court, electronic as soon as I scan in the letter testimonary. Once those are over, it depends if we have an offer for the house. If we do, an estate sale goes off the week after the funeral.

[Scuzz]

If it was an attorney who notified you I would start with a visit to them.

My sister asked my permission before listing me as an executor. I didn’t find out until several years after my brother had been doing the job for my aunt that I was second on her list. She suffered a massive stroke that basically took 15 years to finally kill her. So he served as her executor for about 17 years.

Nope he was not executor for 15 years. An executor only has power after the death of the person and they control and manage the estate. Maybe he had power of attorney, ebut he was definitely not her executor, at least ernot before she died.

Agreed, I got my terms mixed up. He did not become executor until after her death.

[Default]

Probate court is 2/13. Task for tomorrow is meeting with the estate salesman and creating email drafts with the death certificate already attached. I will just need to scan in the letter from court and click send. I'm thinking about going home for a week or so. I need to get my adhd meds, but the inability to task-switch has been a strength, right up to the point the tension tells me to stop for the night.

There have been several particularly painful moments, and the mind must be processing a lot of data, because I have had very vivid dreams every night. I don't remember ever having a streak like this and I'm starting to become reluctant to go to sleep.

[Kraken]

I presume the estate's big enough to justify all this trouble. My sister's assets were $700 in a checking account and I was her executor. Because she used a DIY internet will, it had to be blessed by a MI probate court. Doing so would've cost me most or all of that money, which was supposed to be divided three ways. Even after I spent an hour in a cubicle explaining the situation with documentation, Chase Bank wouldn't budge unless I went through probate. So Chase kept the money and her heirs are each $233.333... poorer.

I found a workaround that would've let them bypass me and claim the money directly, but nobody else wanted the hassle so that was the end of that.

[Default]

Yes.

[Scuzz]

When my dad died most places required a physical copy of the death certificate. In fact I needed to get additional copies beyond my original estimate because of that.

[KKBlue]

I agree with your thoughts about going home for about a week. You have done an amazing job (didn't need me to let you know that) and should be rewarded with a trip back to the comforts of your house. What's good is the airfare receipt will be kept and added to your expense because that is what a professional would charge for. Please allow yourself a guilt free visit to your home will help everyone concerned, most importantly yourself.
Burnout is a serious thing, again... you know this.

[Default]

It have been difficult at times. ( understatement )

I have a few things to tidy up, mainly contacting water and sewer, then I'm looking at flights. I've got about a week, then I have to get back for court. Then, it's a week until the funeral, and then the estate sale. I might hang around in case the house has interest but otherwise I go home.

[Default]

We banged all the chores out in two days. The funeral is Friday, and we'll sell the car on Tuesday. House gets listed on Thursday, and we already have an interested couple. The only task I have to do is cancel the internet. Everything else is remote work.

[Kraken]

Impressive. You could run a lucrative business doing that for others, were you so inclined. Having to wrap up someone's life is something that gobsmacks many of us eventually, and nobody starts out with a clue. I'd gladly pay someone else to do it for me, were they properly vetted and credentialed. Uh, that last clause is probably the corker. Maybe write a book instead.

[LordMortis]

Impressive. You could run a lucrative business doing that for others, were you so inclined. Having to wrap up someone's life is something that gobsmacks many of us eventually, and nobody starts out with a clue. I'd gladly pay someone else to do it for me, were they properly vetted and credentialed. Uh, that last clause is probably the corker. Maybe write a book instead.

And it's something we don't want to think about ahead of time. I do know that many a friend screams about everyone needing a will when dealing with probate. I've yet to make one. I also need to because as a divorcee in Michigan, probate could make life miserable with trying to keep the ex out posthumously.

[Default]

I think the will in this case was only seven pages, and pretty focused. The biggest problem I had was her computer being password-protected and everything was online billing, so I had zero idea where to start. It doesn't hurt that she doesn't have more than her car, house, and bank accounts. I actually have a more valuable estate than she did, and the remaining mortgage is going to cut into that.
It seems like she spent her remaining years alone, which is sad.

[Default]

Funeral is today, house is on the market, estate sale is scheduled, car is sold. All I have to do is cancel the internet and fly home Monday. Then I shan't see Tejas again for this estate!