Help for overwhelmed executors

It seems that every year during the Christmas week, we here at the trust company have at least one distraught customer come in looking for help with an estate. Usually a loved one has passed away, and with all of the activity and expense and travel already involved in the holiday season, it's just too much for the person named as executor to handle. They usually find their way to us through a banking officer to whom they have just told their problems.

I'm always pleased to be able to tell them just how much help we can offer. A trust company can do some or all of the executor's work for them without having the executor give up the decision-making power. We are professional executors, and we know which steps to take, when to take them and in which order to take them. We have connections throughout the industry, including estate lawyers, accountants, appraisers, realtors and auctioneers.

Not many executors know about this service, and many that do know about it assume that it must be very expensive. However, it's cheaper than you think. And it's great value for the money to have experienced people taking care of the estate efficiently and smoothly, avoiding common pitfalls, getting things done on time, talking to the courts and tax department for you, defusing problems with family members, reducing the chance that you'll be sued by the beneficiaries, and keeping the whole thing moving.

One thing executors rarely have while taking care of an estate is peace of mind. This is something a trust company can help you with. If you're an executor who doesn't know where to start, or is part way through an estate and feels overwhelmed, reach out for help! Call your bank and ask if they have a trust department. Or email me and I'll refer you to the trust officer nearest you.