Give your loved ones the gift of certainty by planning ahead with Executor Protection's popular estate tool, the Little Black Box. During these difficult times, Executor Protection is offering this tool for free – saving you $39.95. It includes a consultation on funeral pre-planning, an executor’s How-To-Settle-An-Estate guide, an estate organizing system and a template for chronicling your life story. To learn more, or to request your free Little Black Box, click here.
Planning ahead might be the best gift you can leave for your loved ones after you are gone.
Carrying out the wishes of someone who has passed away can be much more difficult than expected, but making decisions early could save your family a lot of grief during one of the worst times of their lives.
If you’ve already named someone to carry out your wishes and see your will through probate (called an “executor”), you’ve taken the first step – but that person could still face unexpected battles ahead, and since executors are often close to the family, they'll usually be carrying out their duties while still deeply grieving.
Don Somerville, an estate solutions specialist who has a passion for helping people navigate the complex subject of preparing for their death, says executors face myriad challenges: no will, an out-of-date will, no power of attorney, no clear funeral wishes (which can break the strongest of families), no guidance on the many aspects of their role, disorganization (no proper filing of bank statements, tax returns, and other vital documents) and a lack of immediate funds.
"As much as there will always be pain and grief associated with the loss of a loved one, the last thing you need is to stress emotionally and financially while looking after things," Somerville said about the process executors must go through.
Somerville's company, Executor Protection, can help people prepare for what to expect. He helps families and their executors with all the pre-arrangements they need, so when the time comes, the will, final wishes, cash for expenses, access to important documents, and identity theft protection are already in place.
One of Executor Protection's services helps address the most overlooked issue executors face – a lack of available funds.
“Executors may have access to a bank account or other funds of the deceased, but what they don’t realize is that banks usually freeze the deceased’s accounts until after probate – and probate can take up to eighteen months," Somerville said.
One of Executor Protection’s services is to provide a cash disbursement, which is money held in trust and given to the executor within three days of the passing.
“That is such a relief to have the financial burden off their shoulders,” Somerville said.
It is important to discuss the role of executor with this person before the will is signed, as it is a position of great personal, financial, and legal responsibility. The decision to be an executor is legally binding and requires a great deal of both time and financial investment.
Executor Protection is there for families in their time of greatest grief and need by providing proactive services that ease the stress on the family and the executor. Right now, Executor Protection is offering its popular estate tool, normally selling for $39.95, for free.
This tool, called the Little Black Box, includes a consultation on funeral pre-planning, an executor’s How-To-Settle-An-Estate guide, an estate organizing system and a template for chronicling your life story. To learn more, or to request your free Little Black Box, click here.
“Getting your ducks in a row is not difficult ... it’s a gift to your family that minimizes the emotional and financial stress they face when we die,” Somerville said.
One of the kindest things you can do is to protect your executor from needless additional stress with Executor Protection’s efficient and cost-effective solutions. With these solutions, the executor has a turnkey process without the need to mediate among family members, guess at the deceased’s final wishes, risk identity theft or pay out of pocket for final expenses.
Executor Protection has services for families and their executors in any adult age range. While seniors are most associated with end-of-life planning, the fact is, death can come at any time. Pre-arrangement is the final gift you can give to your loved ones. The services offered help keep families intact, protects identity, makes all the necessary documents easy to find, ensures the deceased’s wishes are carried out, and removes the large financial burden associated with administering an estate.
The time invested now in pre-arrangement is time and money very well spent. Protect those you love from additional heartache after your passing. Learn more at Plan Now to Protect Your Loved Ones Later or send an email to Don.
