You should not take any action until discussing the estate with an attorney. In many cases, beneficiaries and family members make incorrect assumptions about the administration process. While there are time constraints, they are typically months, not days. In most cases, you can wait until after the funeral and initial shock of your loved one’s death to schedule an appointment.
In preparation for your appointment, you should gather any information about the decedent’s assets, such as recent bank, brokerage or IRA statements, property tax records, life insurance contracts, and business information. In addition, you should determine whether or not the decedent had a Will or Trust and try to locate the original. It is also helpful if you can provide the names and contact information for all beneficiaries.
