Choosing the Right (or Wrong) Executor 

Choosing the Right (or Wrong) Executor 

Among my Vermont Estate Planning workshops my clients most appreciate is the one called “Thrills, Chills, and Probate-Related Horror.” The probate process can seem deceptively simple to people who’ve never been through it. But in probate, seemingly minor errors or...

Tips for Final Accounting in Probate 

Tips for Final Accounting in Probate At the beginning of the Probate process, something called a final accounting feels like a world away. While it is true that probate can be a long process, keeping the final accounting in mind during the entirety of the process can...
What Can’t an Executor Do?

What Can’t an Executor Do?

The person you name as your executor will be accountable for several important tasks, even in managing a small estate’s administration. This may include filing tax returns, keeping meticulous records, and distributing assets to your beneficiaries. At the same...
3 Things to Know About Being an Executor

3 Things to Know About Being an Executor

An executor is a person or organization you choose to carry out your last wishes outlined in your will. Your executor should be someone you trust is responsible enough to manage your estate after you pass away.   Choosing an executor is a big decision when...
3 Things to Know About Being an Executor

What Not to Include in Your Will

If you are considering preparing a will, this is a great first step in planning for the future. After reflecting on the basics, such as whom you want to be in charge of administering your wishes, you may wonder if there’s anything you shouldn’t include in your will....

Does a Will Avoid Probate?

While a Last Will and Testament is a very important estate planning tool, it does not make an estate avoid probate. In fact, the role of the Will is to guide probate by capturing the decedent’s wishes. If a Will does not avoid the lengthy court process that is...