• Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Vk
Call Us At: (408) 553-0801
Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri
  • Home
  • About
    • Why LPEP
    • Our Attorneys
    • Locations
      • San Jose
      • Santa Cruz
      • San Francisco
    • Testimonials
  • LPEP Spotlight
  • Practice Areas
    • Family Law
      • Annulments
      • Certified Family Law Specialists
      • Child Custody and Visitation
      • Child Support
      • Divorce and Your Estate
      • Divorce Litigation
      • Divorce Planning
      • Domestic Partnerships
      • Domestic Violence
      • Enforcement and Modifications
      • Extramarital Affairs
      • Grandparents’ Rights
      • Harassment
      • Legal Separation
      • Mediation and Collaborative Divorce
      • Parental Relocations
      • Paternity
      • Postnuptial Agreements
      • Prenuptial Agreements
      • Property Division
      • Restraining Orders
      • Same Sex Divorce
      • Spousal Support and Alimony
    • Estate Planning
      • Business Succession Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
      • Trust Administration
      • Trust and Probate Litigation
      • Trusts
      • Wills
  • FAQ
    • Estate Planning FAQ
    • Family Law FAQ
  • Blog
  • Pay Now
  • Resources
    • Family Law Resources
    • Family Law Terms
    • Estate Planning Resources
  • Contact Us
    • Careers
  • Get a Free Consultation
  • Menu
Michael Lonich

WHO TO PICK AS AN EXECUTOR OF YOUR WILL

February 23, 2018/in Estate Planning /by Michael Lonich

Executors of wills have an important job. They are the person who will collect assets of your estate, protect the estate’s property, pay valid claims against the estate, and will distribute estate property to beneficiaries. The work can be extensive and complicated for someone who is not a proper fit, therefore it is essential to pick the right person.

If a person is chosen and does not have the ideal qualities, the estate may find itself being contested. This takes time and is also costly. Therefore, when choosing an executor it is important to look for qualities such as honesty, organization, and being a good communicator.

Having someone who is honest speaks for itself, but having an organized person is important too. Being organized will help your executor effectively distribute and manage your estate. Choosing someone with good communication skills is also helpful since this person will be talking with a variety of people and will be dealing with sensitive situations. Also take into consideration the location of who you are considering to choose. An executor may have to appear in court, check the property mail, and handle the property’s maintenance. These jobs may be easier for someone located close by versus someone out of the area.

There are a multitude of options for who can be your executor. An obvious choice is your partner or spouse. They are most likely to know your intentions for your estate. But if they are later in years, they may not be able to handle everything that needs to be done.

Children are another popular choice. For this option, take into account family dynamics; if you know choosing one child as executor and excluding another would cause problems then it may be best to name both as co-executors. This may be an option if both hold the qualities mentioned before. Also naming siblings as co-executors allows them to divide up responsibilities so not all duties fall on one child alone. However, if one child is obviously not qualified to be an executor it may be better to exclude them. In these situations, it is helpful to discuss the situation with your children that way they are able to hear from you why you chose one sibling over another.

If you do not have a spouse or children to name as executor, don’t despair. You can name other close family members or friends. Just make sure they have an idea of your intentions for your estate and possess the qualities that will help distributing the estate successfully.

However, if none of the above options are appealing, or if you have a particular complex estate then you may want to hire a specialist such as an attorney, bank, or trust company. Although this option costs an additional amount, these entities are experts in closing out an estate and distributing the property to beneficiaries. There is also less stress involved since they are not personally involved in the estate and are not mourning the loss of someone while distributing their property.

Whomever you choose, you must communicate with that individual that you are considering them to be your executor. This is an important role and they should be willing to do the job. If they decline, try not to take it personally; it’s a large job and there are plenty of options.

If you would like more information about estate planning, please contact the experienced family law attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri.

Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

 

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share by Mail
https://www.lpeplaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/LPEP_PC.png 0 0 Michael Lonich https://www.lpeplaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/LPEP_PC.png Michael Lonich2018-02-23 09:00:572021-12-22 20:08:02WHO TO PICK AS AN EXECUTOR OF YOUR WILL
Learn more about estate planning with a free resource
Read all about family law and child custody
Learn more about family law matters such as private divorce counseling.

Categories

  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024
  • 2025
  • Business Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Law
  • Firm News
  • In the Community
  • News
  • Personal
  • Probate
  • Spotlight

Posts From The Past 12 Months

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024

Explore Our Archives

Free 30-Minute Family Law or Estate Planning Consultation

1 + 0 = ?

Contact Us

LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI

1871 The Alameda, Suite 400, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 553-0801 | Fax: (408) 553-0807 | Email: contact@lpeplaw.com

LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI

Phone: (408) 553-0801
Fax: (408) 553-0807
Email: contact@lpeplaw.com

1871 The Alameda, Suite 400
San Jose, CA 95126

Located in San Jose, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, specifically San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and San Francisco. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click here.

MAKE A PAYMENT BY SCANNING THE QR CODE BELOW:

DISCLAIMER

This web site is intended for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Nothing in the site is to be considered as either creating an attorney-client relationship between the reader and Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri or as rendering of legal advice for any specific matter. Readers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel. No client or other reader should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information contained in Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri Web site without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue.

About | Why LPEP | Contact | Blog

© 2024 Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy

WHO GETS THE DOG? CHARITABLE BEQUEST
Scroll to top

LPEP COVID-19 Office Protocol