• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Kuhn and Kuhn Law Firm

South Carolina Estate Planning Attorneys

  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • About The American Academy
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Talkin Law
  • Services
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Charleston Pet Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family Farms and Businesses
    • Healthcare Documents and DPOAs
    • Incapacity Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Living Trusts
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Will Packages
  • Reports
    • Advanced Estate Planning
    • Basic Estate Planning
    • Estate Planning for Niches
    • Trust Administration
  • Resources
    • Client Resources – Estate Planning
    • Consumer Resources – Estate Planning  
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Professional Resources
  • Contact Us
    • Directions to Our Charleston Office
  • Blog
Home / General / Choosing An Executor With Probate In Mind

Choosing An Executor With Probate In Mind

December 16, 2011 by John Kuhn, Estate Planning Attorney

When you use a will as your primary vehicle of asset transfer your estate must pass through the process of probate. This is an interim during which the probate or surrogate court determines the validity of the will and supervises the administration of the estate. There are many tasks that must be tended to during the probate process to make your wishes as stated in writing an actual reality, and these duties fall into the hands of the executor that you name when you are drawing up your will.

Many people do not fully realize what an executor has to do and they select someone without regard to this individual’s ability to handle the responsibility. The executor is going to have to make sure that all final bills are paid, and this includes taxes so in many cases he or she will have to bring in a tax accountant. In most instances the executor will also retain the services of a probate lawyer to handle the legal side of things, and this can potentially include challenges to the will.

In addition, the assets that comprise the estate are going to have to be prepared for distribution to the heirs in accordance with the wishes of the deceased. This can include liquidation of real and personal property, requiring the services of an appraiser or appraisers and/or an estate liquidation company.

As you can see, there is a lot for the executor to take care of and it requires a good bit of business savvy to negotiate these waters. Depending on the size and scope of the estate in question, it can also be quite time consuming, so your executor must be someone who has the time to dedicate to administering the estate. There are professionals who will act as executor for a fee, and this is a viable solution for those who simply do not personally know anyone who is willing and able to take on the responsibility.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
John Kuhn, Estate Planning Attorney
Former South Carolina State Senator, John Kuhn is a founding partner of the Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm.The Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm is a boutique estate planning (wills, trusts and probate) firm, which he and his wife opened in 2002.The law firm was created to serve clients who want an excellent and thorough estate plan.
Latest posts by John Kuhn, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Preparing for Coronavirus - March 10, 2020
  • Incapacity Planning - December 20, 2018
  • Special Accounts for People with Special Needs - December 17, 2018

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Estate Planning, Inheritance Planning, Probate

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Blog

Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm

Charleston
473 Savannah Highway
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: 843-577-3700

Charleston Map

map for Charleston office

Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm

Summerville
421 Old Trolley Road
Summerville, SC 29485
Phone: Our Satellite Office

Summerville Map

map for Summerville office

Opening Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Footer

  • About The Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Kuhn and Kuhn Law Firm
All Rights Reserved.
Attorney Advertisement

footer-logo

Subscribe to our newsletter

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Twitter

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.

Copyright © 2023 · Kuhn & Kuhn on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in