Estate Settlement: An Epilogue

Abstract

A niece tells the story of serving as a co-executrix in settling her aunt's modest estate. Lessons learned include recognizing that when named persons in a will die, it is wise to have a list of their children; that a will from one state may be seen as foreign in an adjacent state; that ethical issues have to be considered in the settlement process; that updated contact information for any sources of money (no matter how small) is mandatory; and that one must consider contingencies that could impact the distribution of assets to heirs.