Naming an executor is one of the most important tasks when creating your estate plan. They will have considerable responsibility and a certain amount of freedom when handling your affairs after you die.
If they fail to do a good job, it will complicate things for your family and beneficiaries. It could cause long delays in the distribution of your assets if a probate court needs to carry out further checks because they discover something is not right.
Here are two qualities the ideal executor will have:
They are likely to outlive you
If a doctor has told you that you only have a few years to live, then choosing your parent or an older sibling is probably fine. Yet, in most cases, it is better to choose someone younger than you. That’s why so many people choose their kids.
They have the capacity to handle the job
If your daughter is busy raising five kids and also lives on the other side of the country, she will struggle to spare the time to carry the job out. If your son has big problems with organization and math, he won’t be a great choice either.
Availability, organization, good communication skills and the ability to get to grips with a technical process quickly will make it far easier for someone to do a thorough job.
Even if someone has all the relevant skills, executing an estate can be a challenging task, especially when they are grieving your loss. Making your estate plan as clear as possible will make their role easier. They can also seek legal help to ease their burden.