Picking A Personal Representative For Your Clearwater Will

When creating a Will in Clearwater, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing a personal representative. This individual will file paperwork to initiate a probate estate with the Court in the County of your residence, and will be responsible to carry out a multitude of responsibilities.

Many automatically choose their spouse or adult children for this role, but they are often still grieving and not prepared for the legal and financial responsibilities. Our Clearwater estate planning attorney explains more about the duties of a personal representative and what qualities to look for in picking the right person for their role.

Duties of a Personal Representative In A Clearwater Will

Choosing a personal representative is one of the first steps in creating a Clearwater Will. Under the Florida Statutes, this is someone who represents your estate throughout probate court proceedings in the event of your death. It is a vitally important job that requires time, effort, and attention to detail. Key duties include:

• Filing your will with the probate court;
• Gathering and valuing your property and assets;
• Settling outstanding debts and collecting any amounts owed to your estate;
• Identifying beneficiaries and distributing assets according to your wishes;
• Closing the estate and filing final tax returns;
• Defending the estate against any disputes or legal challenges.

Besides those responsibilities mentioned above, there can be many more, depending on the circumstances.

Factors To Consider When Selecting A Clearwater Personal Representative

Choosing a personal representative is not something to be taken lightly. While the first choice is often a close relative, realize that a parent, spouse, adult child, or other loved one will be grieving and may lack the capability to handle the work.

This does not automatically rule friends and family out but give careful consideration to whether they can fulfill such an important role. Factors to consider include:

• Proximity to Clearwater: Your personal representative needs to be able to manage your affairs, tend to property, and make appearances in the Pinellas County Probate Court on your behalf.
• Strong organizational skills: Administering an estate requires juggling multiple tasks while dealing with strict legal requirements and firm deadlines.
• Their health and mobility: Depending on the complexity of your estate, your personal representative may need to make multiple appearances in court. Make sure they are physically capable of serving.
• Financial responsibility: Pick someone you trust, who has a strong understanding of financial management and a good credit history.
• Willingness to serve: Ensure the person you select is willing to take on the role and fully understand the responsibilities involved.

For Trusted Legal Guidance, Contact Our Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney

Choosing a personal representative is one of the first steps in creating a Will. To ensure you select the right person for this important task, contact our Clearwater estate planning lawyer.

William Rambaum has over 40 years of experience helping clients in these cases and holds the distinction of being Board-certified by the Florida Bar and the National Elder Law Foundation. For trusted legal guidance throughout the process of creating a Will and other Florida estate planning documents in Clearwater, request a consultation today.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0733/0733.html

mypinellasclerk.gov/Home/Probate-Mental-Health