Role of the Executor

Your Role as an Executor, Administrator or Trustee

The words fiduciary, executor, and administrator, depending on the context used can be interchangeable. An administrator is the label used where there is no will.

The process of administering an estate with or without a will or trust, must take place in the state where the decedent lived at the time of death. You can serve your loved one and their estate no matter where you live. You do not have to reside in New York State.

Families who live outside New York often find themselves probating the estate of a loved one who lived in the State of New York or had assets in New York. There are also situations where the decedent and you may live in different states, but the decedent owned a home or other asset in New York, in which case, you will need to do an ancillary proceeding.

Traveling to NY to Settle an Estate is Not Necessary

You do not have to live in New York or travel to New York to carry out your responsibilities as the executor of a New York estate. You simply must hire a competent attorney to represent you as the fiduciary of an estate.

The Law Office of Bonnie Lawston, with locations in Huntington Station and Ridge, regularly handles estate administration for clients no matter where they live. A large portion of our clients who are responsible for estate matters in New York reside in Florida and elsewhere. Other clients of ours have some contact with the New York Estate matter such as being an heir.

Legal Help to Carry out Your Fiduciary Obligations

When clients retain our legal services, they know we can collect, secure and maintain estate assets, prepare assets for sale or other transfer, and conduct the appropriate sales while reporting to the client at each step of the process. We make the process of interstate, across the country or out of the country communication easy, no matter how large or complex the estate or litigation matter is.

In your role as a fiduciary, which is another word for executor, (when a will is probated), administrator (appointment when there is no will) or trustee, can all be dealt with by phone, U.S. mail, online, iPhone, Skype, email, fax and scanning.

Our job as your attorney is to advise and assist you in your capacity as the representative for the estate and as such, we must answer to you, the estate and sometimes the court. The roles are very similar no matter which “hat ” you wear, and so long as you follow the laws, you will fulfill your duties and obligations. It is not as scary as it sounds. With the proper advice, which comes from our experience in probate, administration and litigation, we can simplify the process. We will do the work for you, making it easy to fulfill your obligations.

Attorney Bonnie Lawston will initiate the probate or administration proceeding, collect and inventory the assets of the estate, collect debts owed to the estate, resolve all debts and appropriate claims of the estate, obtain the necessary releases and distribute the assets to the heirs, and close the estate.

Our office handles estates of all sizes, from small estates that include a few bank accounts to multi-million dollar estates. We prepare all the documents to sell a house or business that belongs to the estate. If you hire our office, you do not need to hire another attorney to sell the house.

Comprehensive Estate Administration Services and Local Resources

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