The Responsibilities of a Personal Representative

• A personal representative is appointed to handle the estate of someone who has died. A personal representative is usually appointed by the person prior to his death under the terms of his will. A personal representative needs to be trustworthy due to the amount of personal information she is entitled to. A personal representative should also have some financial and legal knowledge due to her responsibilities.

Obtain Documents

• A personal representative will need to obtain the necessary legal documents in order to proceed with settling the estate. These documents include the will and certified copies of the death certificate.

Checking Accounts

• A personal representative will need to set up a checking account for the estate. The personal representative can then pay outstanding debts and expenses from that account. Any money owed the estate such as salary, tax returns, dividends and vacation pay can be placed in this account as well.

Inventories

• A personal representative will need to make an inventory of all the deceased assets. It is his responsibility to locate items such as properties, accounts and other investments. Personal items that are valuable might need appraisal to determine their worth. The personal representative may consult professionals to help with this task.

Contacts

• The personal representative will need to make several contacts. She will need to contact all beneficiaries named in the will. She will also have to contact close friends and relatives that may not be named in the will. The personal representative will also need to contact creditors, employers and the social security office. The civil service office and veterans affairs may also need to be contacted if the deceased served in the military.

Make Payments

• The personal representative will need to make payments to validated claims against the estate. These can include creditors, taxes and estate taxes. The personal representative will also have to arrange and pay for all the funeral expenses from the remaining estate.

Distribution

• The personal representative will have to distribute what remains of the estate to those named in the will. A personal representative is allowed to consult a probate attorney for assistance with this process.