I know it is not easy to cope with the death of someone close to you.
This may be a difficult and confusing time. I hope this guide can in a
small way lessen some of the confusion by offering suggestions, tips,
reminders, and information you may need to fulfill your
responsibilities as an executor or heir.
This guide will give you step-by-step guidance on how to identify who
might be of help to you and research other guide books. There are also
sections on how to sort out materials, determine a fair division of
property among heirs and more. You will find tips and suggestions here
you are not likely to see elsewhere.
Each section has an introduction followed by tips and suggestions. At
the end of this guide will be a list of Library of Congress and
Internet search terms to use to research more information. Words
defined in the Terms and Abbreviations section are hyperlinked.
When conducting research remember to consult reference librarians at
your public and county law libraries. They often can lead you straight
to the resource you seek.
Please contact me if you have comments or suggestions about this guide.
Note: This guide is for general information only and should not be
relied upon for legal or financial advice. Dealing with the
complexities involved in coping with an estate requires you seek help
from qualified professionals such as a probate attorney and estate
accountant.
Getting the news of the death of someone close to you
will overturn
your normal world, no matter how prepared you think you are. Death
changes the lives of the living forever.
If you were very close to the deceased, create the time and
circumstances you need to deal with the shock of the news. Use whatever
ways which work best for you. Some people seek out others such as
friends or family, while other people need to be alone. Still
others need to walk or sit in a park or garden. Most of the time other
people will be understanding, but even when they are not still insist
on what you need. Do not feel ashamed if you find you need to get
emergency professional psychological help to deal with your grief.
This is not a safe time to be driving a car or handling dangerous
equipment. Even cooking holds some risks you may injure yourself. It is
better to have a friend or family member drive you or hire a chore
service to run any needed errands. If you must drive, avoid rush hours
and use streets with little traffic.
Naturally, contact family members and friends of the deceased who need
to be told. Start planning the funeral or memorial that accord with the
deceased’s wishes. Make arrangements for what will happen to the body
(burial or cremation). Let your funeral director know what actions,
rituals or timing of events are expected in your cultural or
faith traditions.
Inform your employer you have had a death in the family and arrange a
leave of absence.
If you need to make travel arrangements, use the lists on the next
several pages to help you remember what to take and how to prepare for
your role as an executor.
CHECKLIST
FOR OUT-OF-TOWN TRAVEL
If you will be leaving your home empty, make arrangements for it to be
secure in your absence. Remember, mail needs to be collected, plants
watered and pets cared for.
Arrange for a place to stay. If you cannot stay with friends or family,
extended stay hotels offer one low-cost option. They have very
competitive rates for efficiency rooms with stoves, refrigerators,
microwave machines, pots, and enough plates and utensils for two people.
Buy travel tickets. If traveling by air, ask for the bereavement fare,
but also ask what the normal fare is. Sometimes the normal fare is
lower than the bereavement fare!
Arrange to rent a car, but only if necessary.
Pack. Some things to take along:
Appropriate clothes for the
funeral or memorial
Toiletries
Socks and underwear
Sleep wear
Keys you have (deceased’s home,
safe deposit boxes, storage lockers, etc.)
Legal papers (the will, power of
attorney, etc.)
This booklet and other guides
Small pack of tissues
Cameras and film
Driver’s license
Address book
Medicine
Glasses
Maps
Checkbook and credit cards. You
may want to put all expenses for the estate on one card. This
simplifies part of the record keeping you’ll need to do.
Three ring binder. See note at
end of list.
Work clothes and gloves in case
you have to rummage through a dirty attic or closet.
Note about the three-ring binder:
A standard three-ring binder offers
advantages to most other systems for keeping notes, such as, pages can
easily be inserted, moved, or removed, it is easy to expand to a larger
binder if the need arises, divider tabs can help keep information
organized, and important documents such as the will and death
certificate can be put in sheet protectors and inserted in the binder
for ready access. You’ll need a one-inch binder for your first
trip. Label your divider tabs: Funeral and Memorial, Invitation list,
Obituary and Notices, Location of Papers and Accounts, Real Estate,
Vehicles, etc. Put about 40-50 lined notebook pages in your binder and
make sure to pack it.
The list beginning on the next page will help you during your trip for
the funeral or memorial.
CHECKLIST
FOR THE TIME AROUND THE FUNERAL OR MEMORIAL
Locate the will.
Publish a legal notice of the
death (or have your attorney publish it).
In some states this limits the amount of time creditors have to make a
claim on the estate (check with your lawyer about law in the deceased’s
state).
Carry your three-ring notebook
everywhere. Jot down any information you
received in the appropriate section.
Try to have an heir, family
member, or friend with you when you meet
with undertakers, bankers, etc. They provide a witness to the meetings
as well as a sounding board for the decisions you will have to make.
Follow the wishes of the deceased
as expressed in the will or as told
to you before the deceased died. For example, if the deceased wanted
his or her body or organs donated for medicinal or scientific research,
it is your task to make the proper arrangements for that to happen.
Get a copy of the local phone
book (both white and yellow pages). Ship
it to yourself if it is very bulky. Online white and yellow pages often
limit their free information.
If no one will be living in the house the deceased owned right away,
while you are in town:
Keep the phone service, but get rid of unneeded services such as caller
ID, speed dialing and three-way calling. Keep or add call forwarding
and make sure to forward calls to your number before you leave.
Transfer all utility bills to the “Estate of ____ ____” or your name
and have the mailing address changed to the estate's mail address.
Rent a mailbox and use it solely for estate mail. This keeps junk
mailers, solicitors and telemarketers from thinking the deceased has
moved in with you. When you are done with your executor duties, simply
cancel the box and don’t provide a forwarding address.
Collect all outstanding keys. If
you are not sure who has keys, change
the locks. If you must, explain to questioning heirs that the executor
must control the assets of the estate until it has been inventoried and
appraised.
Have the gas turned off.
Leave the electricity on. You will need the power when in the house.
Stop newspaper and magazine subscription services.
Return all junk mail with a line
through the deceased’s name and
address and marked
Return to Sender
Addressee Deceased
To save time, make labels on your computer.
Order plenty of copies of the death certificate. Every heir may want to
have an official duplicate. You will also have
to send official
duplicates to the Social Security and Verteran’s Administrations,
pension funds, insurance companies, and other businesses as you close
the deceased’s accounts. The funeral home may offer to order copies for
you as part of their service. Since the expense is minor, order a many
more than you think you will need—just in case you do.
GETTING TO WORK
Probate is the process of
proving the legal validity of a will and
executing its provisions. When a person dies testate,
that is, having
left a valid will, he or she usually names someone to serve as
executor. When someone dies without a will, or
intestate, the court
will appoint a personal
representative or personal
administrator. Note:
Not all estates require executors or administrators, but some type of
court approval is always required before any estate property can be
disposed of or distributed to beneficiaries. In all cases, it is
advisable to consult with a lawyer familiar with the probate process in
the state the deceased lived in. If you are named the executor or
administrator, many states allow you to collect a reasonable fee from
the assets of the estate for your time.
As the lead heir, executor or personal administrator, you
are a fiduciary agent, this means others (in
this case the other heirs
and the court) trust you to exercise care with the resources and assets
of the estate. Your first responsibility is to pay the deceased’s
taxes, debts and bills. Later, it’s your job to distribute the assets
according to what is written in the will or as approved by the court.
If you are appointed by the court as an executor or administrator, you
must get court approval before disposing of any of the estate’s assets.
An executor’s or personal administrator’s work is full of
details. Some tips:
No matter the size or complexity of the estate, it is always wise to
seek the advice from an attorney with experience settling estates in
the deceased’s state.
For reference, find a guide book (see page 22) for executors with
information about the probate requirements and process in the
deceased’s state.
Use a three
ring binder to help you keep loose notes and random papers
organized.
Empty a file drawer or storage box to make room for the paperwork you
will accumulate.
Have the IRS send you the forms
and publications you need or download them onto your computer from the
Internet.
Dedicate a credit card to expenses for the estate. This will simplify
record-keeping later.
Open a checking account in the name of the estate. You may need a
taxpayer number for the estate from the IRS to do this.
WATCH
OUT FOR SCAMS AND FRAUD
Yes, sad to say, but there are people, and even organizations, ready to
take unfair advantage of the confusion and emotional turmoil executors
and heirs experience. You can avoid these scam artists by
following some basic guidelines.
Find out from your lawyer what you do, and don’t have to include on
insurance claims forms. Sometimes companies go “fishing” for
information that might give them excuses to avoid paying a rightful
claim.
Learn the current tricks being pulled by scammers by using the search
terms at the end of this guide.
Do not commit the estate’s property or money until you are satisfied
your actions fit the deceased’s wishes or is fair to all heirs.
Greed can lead friends of the family or heirs to use death as a means
of advancing their own self-interests to the detriment of the estate
and other heirs.
If a company or person calls you and you don’t know them or why they
called, never give them any identification (such as Social Security
Numbers).
Beware that some people read death notices and then present phony bills
and demand payment. Since you cannot know right away which bills are
legitimate and which are fakes, ask for the bill in writing with a
itemized listing of what was ordered, date ordered, means of shipment,
etc. If later you are still not sure you should pay it, check with the
Better Business Bureau or your state’s Attorney General to see if the
company has any complaints outstanding against it for running this type
of scam.
HOW TO
HIRE PROFESSIONAL HELP
The more thorough the checks you make before hiring someone, the
greater your chances you will get the work you expect for the fee you
expect. The following suggestions will help you hire professional help
such as lawyers, accountants, contractors and movers.
1. Create a clear image for yourself of what you want. Make a detailed
list or drawing.
2. Make sure to consider what you are willing to pay and when you want
the
work finished. Sometimes you might be able to pay less if you can let
the professional set the timing or pace of work.
3. Decide your criteria for
making your decision. Possible criteria
include:
Can they complete the work on time?
Are charges within a range charged by other people or companies
offering that service.
Are the written estimates easy to understand?
Does the estimate state what will happen if a delay
occurs or something is more costly than estimated?
Did someone you trust refer the professional?
Avoid anyone who solicited your business without your first contacting
them or were referred to you from someone you trust. See page 10 on
scams. Remember to treat these referrals with care and continue to
apply your due
diligence.
Ask people you have hired for a related service to refer someone. For
example, attorneys often can refer reputable accountants or
bookkeepers; carpenters have worked closely with plumbers and
electricians.
Contact the Better Business Bureau, licensing agencies, and
professional associations to see if anyone has complained about a
professional’s work.
Call the names on your list. You want to know:
How familiar are they with the type of work you need?
How long have they been in business?
Are
they insured and bonded?
Can they complete the work within the required time?
Can they provide you with bank and client
references?
Do they meet the criteria you set out in step
3?
Schedule appointments with at least three (3)
potential hires. Ask for
detailed estimates and go over them carefully.
Review your top choice’s estimates and contracts
with someone else to
make sure you have not overlooked anything.
Review the final payment schedule and terms
before signing the
contract. Never agree to pay the whole fee in advance.
Keep a close watch on the work, either in
person, or if you live out of
town, by someone you trust. Point out problems as soon as you notice
them so that corrective actions can be taken before the expense and
time for correcting them can add up.
CA$H, TRASH AND
STASH
CA$H. For some
estates sorting out what is valuable from trash and then
determining a fair value so heirs can get their designated share
becomes the major task of the executor. In general, when trying to sell
an item through a third party such as a dealer or auctioneer, choose to
work with the person who stands to make more the higher the selling
price. For example, dealers make their money on the difference between
what they pay the estate and what they can then resell the item for.
Auctioneers, on the other hand, take a percentage of the winning bid,
so the higher the bid price the more money both the auctioneer and
estate make.
Consider that you have some large pieces of furniture and a mixed
collection of small decorative pieces none of the heirs want. You
decided to sell them and add the money to the cash balance of the
estate for later distribution. What are your options?
Sell it yourself. You can easily sell many items with a
garage/estate sale, by placing an ad in the local paper, or listing on
an online auction site like Ebay. This option works best if you
know the value of the property or are confident the resale value is not
that great. Collectors offer the best prices. The What's it Worth?
site can direct you to online resources.
Estate liquidators. These companies can inventory the
personal
property and collectibles and hold a sale at the estate property or at
their business. Some are associated with a not-for-profit organization
and can give you a tax-deductible receipt for any unsold items you let
them keep as a contribution. If you go this route compare paying a flat
fee against the liquidator getting a percentage of the total sale.
Since the liquidator stands to
make more money if the overall receipts are higher, the percentage
arrangement helps align their interests with that of the estate.
Auctioneers. Auctioneers make
their money from both parties in a sale:
they take a percentage off the winning bid and they charge the buyer a
premium, usually ten percent of the bid. Definitely solicit business
from several companies. When you look over your property with an
auctioneer listen for how he or she refers to what you own. For
example, one executor showed his father’s property to an auctioneer who
said nothing, claimed the neighborhood was poor for sales potential and
offered to buy it all for a low figure and then auction it under his
own account.
A second auctioneer was quite excited, and noted that the collected
ceramics were made in “Occupied Japan” and fetched $10 each, some
pottery and dishware were well- known collectables, etc. He also
promised to restore damaged and broken furniture at cost to help them
sell at higher prices at auction. The second auctioneer got the
business and the estate netted over double what the first auctioneer
had offered.
Dealers. A dealer is truly a
middle person between you and the ultimate
buyer. Dealers make their money by the difference between what they can
pay for an item and what they can later sell it for. Unless you know
the value and current market for an item which puts you in a good place
to know if a dealer offers a fair price, be cautious when dealing with
dealers. If someone “appraises” the worth of something and then offers
to buy it at that price, ask for that appraisal in writing and then get
a second, independent, appraisal before agreeing to the deal.
Appraisers. Appraisers use
their education and experience to estimate
the value of an item. They use different criteria (and thus will make
different value decisions) depending on whether an item is being
appraised for resale or tax purposes. Expect to pay higher fees for
written appraisals, lower fees for verbal appraisals. You may want to
establish a threshold of value to decide when to get a written
appraisal. For example, if an item is worth less than $500 you might
note for your records the verbal appraised value; if over $500 the
estate might pay to get the appraisal in writing.
TRASH. This category also
includes recycling.
Throw out or recycle
anything with zero value—newspapers, advertising circulars, musty
clothes, irreparable appliances. You know it’s trash because it’s
common, cheap, outdated, ugly, no heirs want it, and no one would be
interested in buying it or taking it as a donation.
If you have very little trash to contend with
put it out for regular
trash pick up. This is why you keep the garbage utility paid up even if
the house is empty. Sometimes larger items such as sofa or refrigerator
will also be accepted if you make arrangements with trash collectors.
Great quantities of trash or many large items
might require a trip to
the dump.
If going to the dump is too great a burden,
consider renting a
commercial dumpster. Often these can be rented for a week and included
in the price is the company picking up the dumpster and taking it
away.
Buy the thickest trash bags you can find.
Usually these are sold at
contractor, janitorial supply, and hardware stores. Thickness is
measured in 1/1000th of an inch units called “mils.” The thickest bags,
3 mil thick or greater, are sometimes sold as “contractor grade.”
Thick bags rarely rip even if you put heavy, sharp or bulky items in
them.
To avoid the frustration of running out of bags
and extra trips to the
store, buy a few more boxes of bags than you think you will need on
your first trip and keep the receipt. When you are done return the
unopened boxes of bags for a refund.
Other things to have at hand include:
gloves (rubber, work, and gardening)
disposable surgical masks
hand truck
plastic tote boxes
cardboard boxes
shipping tape
labels
markers
tape measure
camera w/ flash
twine
tarps
dust rags
paper towels
disinfectant
flashlight with batteries
tool box with tools
STASH. As executor you’re responsible for the security of
property
until you turn it over to the appropriate heir or sell it.
If you cannot fully secure the deceased’s home,
consider renting a
storage locker for larger items.
A safe deposit box can secure paper documents
such as deeds and
insurance policies, but don’t forget to put jewelry, stamps, or coins
there as well.
Shipping. When it comes time
to ship property to heirs there are many
options which can save the estate money or time.
Beside the major package delivery companies like the United States
Postal Service (USPS), Federal
Express and UPS,
you can sometimes save
money by using Amtrak or Greyhound Bus lines. For very expensive or
bulky items your best option is to use a specialized moving company
like one a museum might hire.
You can save money by reusing boxes. Many people access shipping and
moving boxes through sharing or recycling sites like Freecycle or Craigslist. If
there is a lot of print, carefully separate the box where it is glued
together, turn it inside out, and retape it together.
DEALING WITH COMPANIES AND BUREAUCRACIES
Contacting nonresponsive organizations could be the start of a
frustrating, time-consuming effort to get a company or branch of
government to do their jobs. Some tips and reminders:
Take detailed notes. Note the number you called, the full
name of the
person you spoke to, their supervisor’s name, the date and time of the
call, what you requested, their response, what should happen next and
how long it should take.
Ask if the customer service representative has experience
dealing with
deaths and estates. If he or she does not, ask to be transferred to
their supervisor or another service rep who does.
Repeat any addresses or numbers read to you. Ask the
customer service
representative to repeat any information you provide them.
Ask follow-up questions. For example, if told you need to
send a “copy
of the death certificate” ask if a photocopy will do or do they need an
authenticated copy. If you must send an official
duplicate, ask if they
will return it if you enclose a SASE.
If told you need to send a notarized form, make sure to find
out
exactly what they require—notorized is not the
same as a Medallion
Guaranteed Signature.
Build a paper trail of their own documents in case you need
to resolve
some problems later. Ask if a paper record of the call—and and promised
actions—can be mailed, emailed, or faxed to you.
When you hang up, review your notes for thoroughness and legibility.
When dealing face-to-face the suggestions for keeping detailed notes
still apply. In addition, you should be aware:
Ask if there are written instructions for heirs or executors
in your
situation (surprisingly often there are not).
Get the business card with a direct phone number for
everyone you speak
to.
Take someone with you as a witness and to provide a second
perspective
on the proceedings.
If things seem to be going nowhere, take your complaints up
the
organization.
When you come across someone who knows what they’re doing,
return to
them and let them direct you around the organization.
If you are repeatedly frustrated, get your lawyer involved.
ENVY-FREE
PROPERTY DIVISION
After debts and taxes are paid and the value of the total estate
assessed, there comes a time when the property will have to be divided
among the stated beneficiaries of the deceased’s will. This may be the
time for crusty sibling rivalries to resurface, when you may learn that
adult children of the deceased have each been promised the same item,
and where the heirs pay close attention to issues of equity and
fairness.
There is help from the field of envy-free division that
first drew the
attention of mathematicians but now has seen growing interest in other
disciplines. To read more about this concept follow the search prompts
at the end of this guide under “Envy-Free Division.” When you come to
the time to divide what’s left fairly, consider these points:
There are many other ways the heirs might value an item
other than
simple monetary worth. For example, the heir with a strong interest in
gardening might value the deceased’s rototiller more highly than the
sheet music collection.
Use a point-value scheme. This is
preferred to a cash-value scheme
because points can more easily be used to show sentiment. Also, the IRS
might use any monetary value the heirs place on an item as a means of
collecting more taxes.
Envy-free division can happen even when heirs lack complete
goodwill
among themselves.
For help understanding fair division call the chair of your
state
university’s math department or your local mediation service.
RESOURCES
What's This Worth?
How to use the Internet to research the value of your antiques.
Internal Revenue Service. Publication 559: Survivors, Executors, and
Administrators. online at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p559.pdf
or
call 1-800-906-9887 to learn how to receive it by other means. As soon
as you are able you will want to file: Form SS—4: Application for Employer
Identification Number. This will
give you a taxpayer ID number for the estate. Form 56: Notice
Concerning Fiduciary Relationship. Send Form 56 to the
IRS Center where the deceased filed taxes to notify the IRS that you
are the executor. You will send this form twice—once to alert the IRS
that you are the executor and a second time after you’re finished
distributing the estate.
HOW
TO SELECT EXECUTOR GUIDE BOOKS
A good guide book can serve as a wise advisor through every step of the
executor process saving you time, money and aggravation. Tips for
selecting a guide book:
How current is it? Check for the copyright and publication date. If it
is a revised edition of an earlier work, check to be sure it really has
been updated (look for references to recent laws or court cases).
Is the book specific to state of residence of the deceased? A
book specifically about administering wills in that state will have
more detailed information than a general reference book.
Does it contain sample forms? Are they filled
in? Are there blank forms
for you to copy and use? Are the forms current?
Does it explain how to get Veteran
Administration and Social Security
benefits?
Does the guide deal with insolvent estates in
the state the deceased
died in? At the beginning of the process you may not know if the estate
you are handling will ultimately prove to be solvent (have an excess of
assets over liabilities and debts) or insolvent (owe money).
Does the book have the right tone for you? Finding a book with a
compassionate tone might be especially important to you if the deceased
was very close to you or suffered a traumatic death such as suicide,
murder, or an accident.
If you have to move the body a long distance, does the book offer
guidance about the proper storage and transportation of the deceased’s
body?
Does it include the contact information
(addresses, phone, email, web
sites, etc.) you need? These include, but are not limited to, state and
local government offices where death certificates are kept, Veterans
Administration, Social Security Administration, state taxing
authorities, Internal Revenue Service, and so on.
Does it pass the table of contents and index test? See if you can use
the table of contents and index to look up something relevant to your
responsibilities. If none come to mind, try to find the sections in the
book dealing with “transportation charges,” and “insolvent estates.”
Does the guide explain what is permissible for
you to charge for
executor fees?
Does it offer tips on how to organize your work
and your papers?
Does it have a glossary?
Does it have blank forms to help you stay
organized? Especially useful
are forms to list contacts, heirs, real estate, personal property, and
investments.
Does it discuss details about situations you are
likely to face?
Are the chapters laid out in the same sequence
as the tasks you need to
complete as executor? If they are, this lets you focus on one
task/chapter at a time and not have to try to absorb the whole book at
once.
HOW TO
EVALUATE A WEBSITE
When evaluating a website bear in mind that the sole judge of its worth
or quality is you. Unlike a book which most often needs at least two
minds (the author’s and the publisher’s) in agreement that it should be
produced, a website can be the creation of a single person. So beware.
With that said, the Internet can be a great source of
information. Use these tips to make the best use of this resource.
Who sponsors the web site? Rate a web site created or sponsored by
organizations you are already familiar with higher than one by someone
you have not heard of. Local, state and federal government sites can
usually be trusted to have accurate information.
If an organization supports the site, have you heard of them? Do you
trust them to prevent false, inaccurate, or misleading information from
appearing on their web pages?
Can you track any quoted materials back to the
original source?
Sometimes a follow up search will take you to the original material.
Does it have a useful set of links and resources?
Is the site mostly information … or advertising?
Does the information the site provide ring true with what else you
know? If you learn something new, can it be confirmed with further
research?
Remember, the reference librarian is your friend. If you encounter
problems finding the type of information you need, ask the reference
librarian at your local library for help.
How to use these prompts.
1. Find the topic area in this list you want to search for.
2. Go online and go to Google or Library of Congress site
as indicated.
3. Type in the underlined words.
Words in italics should be replaced as indicated. For example, you
would replace state with the
name of your specific state such as
Georgia or Kansas.
If your state is two words, like North Dakota, enclose the name in
double quote marks and always use lowercase, like this: “north dakota.”
These search prompts are meant to get you off to a good start—you may
have to experiment with different terms to find exactly what you are
looking for.
Handbooks and Guides see also Dealing
with Executor Duties
Google search:
"state" executor
How to Hire a Tax Accountant
Google search: hire
"tax accountant" estate
authenticated copy — see certified copy. certified
copy — an official copy from a governmental agency, usually
printed on special paper or embossed with the agency’s seal. due diligence — to take proper
care and heedfulness. executor
— the person named in a will to manage an estate. fiduciary
— a person obligated to others to sustain a special
relationship of trust, confidence or responsibility. inherited
IRA — a special type of Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
created for heirs from the proceeds of the deceased’s IRA account. See
page 28 for how get more information on this type of account. intestate
— dying without a legally valid will. lien — a legal right or
interest that a creditor has in another’s
property that lasts until the obligation is paid or satisfied. Medallion
Signature Guarantee — A stamp and signature which confirm
that the signature on a certificate or stock power is genuine. A
Medallion Guarantee is obtained from an eligible institution
participating in the Medallion Guarantee program, such as a commercial
bank, broker, trust company, etc. mil — Unit of measure equal to
1/1000 of an inch. Best shipping tape
and trash bags are both 3 mil thick. notary public — A notary public is
a person authorized in a particular
state to witness or attest to a signature by
notarizing a document after watching the person sign it. official duplicate
— see certified copy. personal
administrator — a generic term for the manager of an estate. personal
representative — see personal administrator. point value scheme
— a method of assigning value to property which uses
points rather than dollar amounts. For example, heirs might each be
given one hundred points to assign among the property of the deceased.
An heir really wanting to inherit a specific object might “spend” a
majority of his or her points on it to try to secure it, even though
the actual monetary value might be relatively small. power
of attorney — a legal instrument authorizing someone to act as
another person’s agent or attorney. probate —
the process of proving the validity of a will and executing
its provisions under the guidance of the court. SASE —
Stamped, Self-Addressed Envelope. testate —
having a legally valid will.