Beneficiaries Being Named

As Executor, you should notify beneficiaries of the estate within three months after the Will has been filed in Probate Court. For beneficiaries of assets that are not included in the will (and therefore do not pass through Probate) there are no specific notification requirements.

The person named as the Executor in the Will (or the Administrator if there is no Will) is responsible for contacting all of the Beneficiaries. This person should promptly notify everyone who has an interest in the Estate, advising what their entitlement is, to avoid any confusion later on in the process.

All taxes and liabilities paid from the estate, including medical expenses, attorney fees, burial or cremation expenses, estate sale costs, appraisal expenses, and more. The executor should keep all receipts for any services or transactions needed to liquidate the assets of the deceased.

Beneficiaries of a will must be notified after the will is accepted for probate. 3feff Moreover, probated wills are automatically placed in the public record. If the will is structured to avoid probate, there are no specific notification requirements. 4feff This is relatively rare.

Call the probate court to obtain the name and phone number of the executor, if you cannot obtain it from family members. Ask the executor of the will whether you are a beneficiary in your relative's will. Ask for a copy of the will so you can verify the information he provided.

The person named as the Executor in the Will (or the Administrator if there is no Will) is responsible for contacting all of the Beneficiaries. This person should promptly notify everyone who has an interest in the Estate, advising what their entitlement is, to avoid any confusion later on in the process.

Accounts or assets with named beneficiaries may be transferred without going through the probate process. Assets with joint ownership with right of survivorship pass to the second owner when the first owner dies.