W2R
Moderator Emeritus
My brother, George, is executor of my mother's estate, which has taken over half a year so far and still is not settled.
George has been doing something that I think is tremendously helpful and valuable to me, which is to send all heirs a monthly e-mail detailing what he has done, what the estate attorney has done, what my mother's CPA has done, what the bank holding the trusts has done, what the estate has paid out to whom, what is left, and similar progress items, as well as an updated timeline for future actions and developments.
I don't know or really care if this is legally required or not, but even if it isn't I would urge anyone acting as executor to consider doing it. By removing the clouds of uncertainty it calms any fears or paranoia that the heirs could conceivably develop due to not knowing what is going on, and we feel included. Also, it gives us a realistic idea of what to expect and when and why.
I have known people who weren't as well informed by executors, and estate matters were much more difficult for them to accept than they have been for me.
George has been doing something that I think is tremendously helpful and valuable to me, which is to send all heirs a monthly e-mail detailing what he has done, what the estate attorney has done, what my mother's CPA has done, what the bank holding the trusts has done, what the estate has paid out to whom, what is left, and similar progress items, as well as an updated timeline for future actions and developments.
I don't know or really care if this is legally required or not, but even if it isn't I would urge anyone acting as executor to consider doing it. By removing the clouds of uncertainty it calms any fears or paranoia that the heirs could conceivably develop due to not knowing what is going on, and we feel included. Also, it gives us a realistic idea of what to expect and when and why.
I have known people who weren't as well informed by executors, and estate matters were much more difficult for them to accept than they have been for me.