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The role · A guide

What a personal representative actually does

A personal representative, sometimes called an executor, is the person appointed to administer a deceased person's estate: protecting what is left behind, paying valid debts, and distributing what remains to the people who inherit it. It is a position of trust, and it comes with a clear set of duties.

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The job, in plain language

Six duties that make up the role

The law varies by state, but the shape of the job is consistent. These are the responsibilities that touch almost every estate.

Protect the property

Secure the home, keep it insured, and keep up basic maintenance so its value does not slip away while the estate is open.

Notify and communicate

Let beneficiaries and family know what is happening, and keep them informed as the estate moves forward.

Manage the money

Open an estate bank account, keep estate funds separate from personal funds, and track every dollar in and out.

Pay the bills

Use estate funds for the mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, and valid debts, in the order the law requires.

Handle the paperwork

File the necessary documents, respond to creditor claims, and keep a clear record of every decision.

Distribute and close

Once debts and expenses are settled, distribute what remains to the beneficiaries and close the estate.

Where the house fits

The real estate side of the job

  • Secure it

    Change the locks if needed, arrange for the mail, and make sure the house is not sitting visibly empty.

  • Insure it

    Keep homeowner's coverage in force. An uninsured house is a risk the estate cannot afford.

  • Maintain it

    Mow, clear gutters, and fix leaks. Small neglect compounds quickly into big repair bills.

  • Decide its future

    Sell, keep, or rent. We help you weigh the options with numbers, not emotion.

  • Sell it well

    When the decision is to sell, we handle the listing, marketing, offers, and closing.

A tidy desk with estate paperwork, a house key, and reading glasses
The paperwork is manageable with the right help
How we lighten the load

Your job is the estate. Ours is the house.

You stay in control of every decision. We take on the work that would otherwise consume your evenings.

Assess the property

Condition, value, and what it will take to sell, in a written summary you can share with the family.

Coordinate the prep

Cleaning, repairs, and the estate sale, scheduled so the house is ready when it needs to be.

Run the sale

Marketing, showings, offers, and negotiation, with an honest read on every offer that comes in.

Close and account

Paperwork through closing, plus a clear record of the sale for the estate's final accounting.

Practical actions

First steps, this week

You do not need to do everything at once. These five things get the estate moving in the right direction.

01

Find the will and any trust documents

They name you, or confirm who the personal representative is, and they describe how the estate should be handled.

02

Order certified copies of the death certificate

Banks, insurers, and the court will each want one. Order more than you think you need.

03

Secure the property

Check the house, change locks if necessary, and keep it insured. An empty house needs protection.

04

Open an estate bank account

Keep estate money separate from your own from day one. It protects you and the beneficiaries.

05

Call us for a walkthrough

A no-obligation look at the property gives you a clear picture of condition, value, and what comes next.

A note on legal advice: this guide explains the personal representative role in general terms. Estate law varies by state, and your attorney is the right person for legal questions about the estate itself. We are happy to work alongside them.

Feeling in over your head?

That is exactly why we exist. A conversation costs nothing and usually clears the fog.

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Let us take one thing off your plate

A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. Tell us what is going on and we will tell you honestly what your options are, in plain language and at your pace.

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  • We call you back within one business day.

  • A short conversation, no obligation, at your pace.

  • If it makes sense, we walk the property together.

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