Probate Will in Loudoun

Do not cash any checks from Social Security or other retirements that are dated after death.

Notify Social Security to stop sending checks.

Get a tax id for the estate online at irs.gov.

Executor\Executors Open a checking account with Estate tax id.

If a 401k or bank accounts have beneficiary they are treated different than the Will.

A 401k will need to be transfer into an inherited IRA which an accountant is better suited for since it is most likely MIL is drawing off of it and proceeds will go to a non spouse. Inherited IRAs can be confusing, but the estate has at least to Dec 31, 2017 to do something and I am pretty sure it would be Dec 31, 2018.

Lawyer is an easy filing and legal notices need to go into the paper identifying him as the one to contact. Once done, lawyer needs to be contacted within a time frame (i.e. 6 months) or the creditor is out of luck. I would suspect the legal notice going in a Loundoun paper and Washington Post.

Since there is real estate, that most likely will increase in value before it is sold in this market and my understanding is that increase will be taxable. The value of the house at death is inheritance and most likely will not be taxable unless MIL is very wealthy.

I done this twice, and the accounting and legal is not that complex. The emotions are complex (i.e. cleaning out house ).

Good luck FFX. Those are the basics with professional legal and accounting help when needed









[Post edited by VaTechie at 01/17/2017 12:38PM]