Estate administration involves responsibility and obligations

The loss of a loved one can quickly take its toll on surviving family members. Some parties may want to — and have the ability to — put their lives on hold temporarily in order to grieve. Others, however, may not have that chance, especially someone acting as executor attending to estate administration in Massachusetts.

Because the executor has a great deal of responsibility and a number of obligations to attend to, it can be difficult to know when and where to get the ball rolling. Some people may wonder whether they need to probate the will and what steps will need to be taken after that action. Of course, as with most scenarios, the actions an executor needs to take for a specific estate will depend on the circumstances.

Executors can work to determine whether there are any probate assets and what property may be exempt from the process. However, even without probate assets, legal proceedings may be necessary in order to address other affairs of the estate that need settling. Because there is so much that goes into closing an estate, it is understandable that many executors feel overwhelmed by their obligations.

Fortunately, whether a person took on the role of executor out of a sense of duty or genuine interest, he or she can obtain assistance with the estate administration process. Massachusetts attorneys can help individuals in this position know what steps to take when it comes to specific estate needs. This can be especially useful if the executors live out of state as legal professionals can handle some of the necessary steps involving paperwork without the physical presence of the executors.