Defaulting to the oldest child isn't always the best move. Follow these guidelines to select a trustworthy executor and keep the peace among your heirs.

There are many steps you have to take if you're named the executor of an estate, and each estate is different, but there are some basic steps to follow.

Far too many of us put off finalizing estate documents because we get hung-up on one or more decisions where we believe we have less than optimal choices. Over my next few posts, I will provide my ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bob Carlson researches all facets of retirement finances. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This voice ...

The ‘Executor of the Estate’ sounds like a title for a new spellbinding novel. While the position is, perhaps, not so grand as the name would imply it's, nonetheless, extremely important. Let's look ...

The old saying that “you can’t pick your family” may be true. But you can pick the executor of your estate and it doesn’t have to be a member of your family. Sometimes, in fact, it’s better when the ...

'There's no trust in place, but there is a will' "How long does it take for an executor to be able to access the account and pay the debts of the deceased?" (Photo subject is a model.) Dear Quentin, ...

I am the executor of an estate which includes a stock account worth $400,000. My relatives made great investment choices and I would like to keep the shares rather than liquidating them. However, the ...

In a recent New York surrogate court decision, according to documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal, the court awarded the executors of Leona Helmsley’s estate $100 million in fees, to be split ...