The Executor and Successor Trustee Handbook: A Plain-English, Step-by-Step Guide to Probate, Trust Administration, Assets, Debts, Taxes, ... Distribution (Plain-English Estate Planning)

Someone has died, and you have been told, “You’re the executor” or “You’re the successor trustee.” What do you do first?

The Executor and Successor Trustee Handbook gives grieving, overwhelmed family members a calm, practical way to move forward. Written for ordinary people with no legal or financial background, it follows the order in which responsibilities usually arise—from protecting the home and gathering documents to identifying assets, handling debts, keeping records, communicating with beneficiaries, and making final distributions.

Understand what to do—and what not to do—in the first days after a death Learn the general difference between probate administration and living-trust administration Gather the authority and documents institutions may require before they will speak with you Build an inventory of accounts, property, insurance, debts, subscriptions, and other obligations Handle the house, personal belongings, utilities, insurance, mortgage, and family disagreements with care Understand beneficiary designations, joint ownership, retirement accounts, and other assets that may pass outside the will or trust Keep a separate estate account, paper trail, accounting, and expense records that help protect you Recognize when tax questions, conflict, or state-law issues call for a lawyer or CPA Each chapter ends with a practical checklist, and ordinary worked examples make unfamiliar tasks easier to understand. The closing timeline follows a typical uncomplicated estate through its first year.

This is general educational information for the United States, not legal or tax advice. Probate, trust, fiduciary, tax, compensation, creditor, and filing rules vary by state and situation. Where a decision depends on state law, the book explains how to check the probate court’s website or contact the state bar for guidance.

By the end, you will know how to pause before acting, find the right information, organize the work, communicate responsibly, and make informed decisions about when to proceed on your own and when to seek professional help.