When a loved one passes away in the state of Georgia, the probate and estate administration process begins. A petition is filed in the appropriate county and, once appointed, the executor or administrator of an estate is bound by the fiduciary duties imposed by Georgia state laws. These fiduciary duties are some of the highest and most stringent governed by Georgia law. That means the task of serving as estate administrator or executor can be very time consuming and complex.
The role of executor means settling the decedent’s estate and may include the following tasks:
- Obtaining Letters of Administration (or Letters Testamentary) from the probate court
- Obtaining the death certificate
- Securing other relevant documents, including:
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- vehicle titles
- birth certificates
- real estate deeds
- marriage certificate
- prenuptial agreements
- military discharge papers
- pension and other employee benefit information
- Filing the will and any other legal papers
- Locating and notifying creditors and heirs
- Filing final state and federal income tax returns
- Opening checking and savings accounts for the estate
- Making and managing investments
- paying all debts and final bills
- maintaining a written record of all income and expenses
- selling assets, as needed, to pay bills and debts with the approval of the probate court
- identifying, and providing the court with, a list of debts and assets
In Georgia, an estate executor has many and varied responsibilities, and in honesty, it can be a daunting role. Additionally, the clerks in the probate court cannot offer advice or assistance on settling the estate in question. It is the sole responsibility of the executor or administrator to properly complete all forms and gather all needed documentation. Fortunately, the attorneys at the Grissom Law, LLC are here to help. We have the knowledge and experience to ensure all fiduciary benchmarks are met, and the estate’s assets are fairly and legally distributed. Call us today for the legal expertise you need to attain the peace of mind you deserve.
Disclaimer
This Blog/Web Site is made available for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and Grissom Law, LLC.