How Ontario Estate Trustees Benefit from Legal Help

A little while ago, Carol came into my law office. She placed a new leather portfolio on the boardroom table. She told me she had just come from a relative’s funeral.

“I am executor of my brother’s estate, but I don’t know what to do,” Carol said. “Can you help me?”

“What kind of executor services do you need?” I asked.

“I got this portfolio from the funeral home,” Carol said.

As she opened it, I saw a few executor checklists.

“What about all those checklists?” I said. “Aren’t they of any use to you?”

“They don’t explain what my duties are. I want to know what to do and how and why.”

Executor Skills Aren’t Taught in School

No one wants to deal with death, especially the death of a loved one or friend. A person’s death can create huge problems that someone must handle. The skills you need are not taught in any school or course.

Every estate is different. You don’t need to feel embarrassed asking for help. Start by having a lawyer read the will and explaining your instructions. Get legal advice to protect yourself.

The specific tasks you must perform in each estate will vary. No checklist can adequately cover all the individual issues that may arise.

You will need legal advice on the finer points in law in the will. You may know or need to discover the family history and dynamics. This will affect how your work is done.

If you are expecting to be an executor, find out where to start. Do you have questions about your duties and what you can be paid? Contact me for a meeting to discuss your needs. I look forward to helping you make probate painless.

As an Ontario Certified Specialist, estate law is all I do.