Making a thorough inventory of everything in the estate is one of the duties an executor has after a person passes away and before any probate clearing process can begin. This applies to everything, not just the bulky furniture and objects you believe have potential value. It consists of all the trinkets, keepsakes, picture books, clothing, and other items that someone leaves behind after a well-lived life. All of these things are under your control as an executor, and you are responsible for ensuring they end up where they should be. Read on to find out more about listing the property of a deceased loved one.
Clearance
Most of the time, you should schedule a property clearance service to eliminate everything that isn’t necessary. But even though it should happen relatively quickly, that can’t happen until all the belongings have been listed. Naturally, most belongings will remain where they are if a spouse or partner survives, and a probate clearance service might not even be required.
Access to the Property
It is your responsibility to prevent family members and acquaintances of the deceased from accessing the home and taking items; everything must be categorised, and anything valuable needs to be professionally evaluated and shouldn’t be taken out. This holds true even when the object is mentioned in a will or was promised to someone. Nothing should be given to anyone before the will is fully implemented because this will reduce the estate’s worth.
Assess Everything
It is best to review all the items at the beginning of the process and decide what can be removed and what is valuable. For example, clothing is frequently donated to charities, and many things can be thrown out even when doing so is not pleasant. Once the “good” and “no longer needed” have been sorted, you can hire a probate clearance service provider to remove the trash and unnecessary goods.
It is your responsibility to thoroughly inspect every area of the home and check any sheds, garages, lofts, or basements. You can always get rid of anything later if you decide it isn’t something that has to be maintained. If you are unsure of anything’s value, set it aside and get an estimate from an expert.
Taking pictures or recording what you do is a brilliant idea as well, as it will provide you with evidence if someone wants to dispute anything you may have moved or even express concerns about you taking something that is not yours.
For professional probate advice, contact Probate a Will on 0203 9859554.
