The Executor's Guide
Settling A Loved One's Estate or Trust

The Executor's Guide
Settling A Loved One's Estate or Trust
Bestseller!
Mary Randolph
February 2018, 8th Edition
Customer Reviews
- Great Help and Guidance by Leonard B.
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This guide is very helpful for administrating the process of executing for your deceased relative. This guide gave me the confidence to support my relatives wishes, that "I take care of things for her." (Posted on 11/9/2020)
- Helpful, but not sufficient by Stephen W.
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This is very clear and readable and helps the successor trustee understand what is needed and how to look at the tasks to liquidate a trust. My parents "simple trust" made reference to an "appointment trust" and then a "disclaimer trust". It was not clear to us why they were different and which one applied to our responsibilities. As a result, we are working with an estate attorney. I would have preferred the book to be divided between Trust/trustee and Will/executor rather than having interspersed sections. (Posted on 11/9/2020)
- Excellent Guide to a Complex Subject by DAVID E.
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A very detailed book to assist me and my adult children in settling our estate at some point in the future. (Posted on 12/26/2019)
- Review by V. M.
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Answers a lot of questions in easy to understand language. I would recommend to anyone in this position. (Posted on 12/22/2019)
- A Place to Turn When There is Nowhere to Turn by Martha N.
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My mother made zero preparations for her death. This book was a source of information and comfort at a stressful time, when I was thrown into the deep end of the pool and didn't know how to swim. Very grateful for this life preserver. (Posted on 12/16/2019)
- Well worth the investment by JB
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That is when I came across “The Executor's Guide”, which I borrowed from our library. It was full of information that would have made my experience as Executor simpler, and even more that pertained to my own situation. There was no way that you could read this book and say I got it all, and that’s when I decided to buy the book and the PDF download.
Since then I’ve restated our trusts and put together a to-do list for my daughter, which I call, Responsibilities of the Successor Trustee. Without the aid of this book I could not have put together such a complete list. In one of the last items on my list, I indicate to my daughter that once she assumes her duties as Successor Trustee, she should make sure that in addition to my list, she should contact NOLO and make certain she has the latest version of this book or its replacement. Hopefully there will be numerous revisions before that happens. (Posted on 12/16/2019)
I was the Executor for, sadly, my mom's estate earlier this year. I chose to settle her estate myself without the help of an attorney. The experience with probate was a learning process at a time when you are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Everyone I dealt with was kind and as helpful as they could be, but still it was difficult dealing with a probate system which is archaic and in need of bringing it into the 21st century. After going through this process for my mom, I decided I wasn't going to leave this world without giving my children some advanced direction for my wife and me. - Good Book by R Y.
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When you have to read up on this topic, this is a good source of info. (Posted on 12/13/2019)
- Not a very helpful resource for us. by Mary D.
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I did not find this NOLO resource to be very helpful. I am a big fan of NOLO, and have purchased and used many of it's books and online tools. This guide lacked the "how to" guidance and resources that I have counted on from NOLO. Although it provided some helpful background information, the forms, checklists and templates were lacking. I wound up developing my own checklist and administrative plan, with timelines and tasks. It would have been nice if this guide could have provided that resource. (Posted on 12/7/2019)
- Great book to guide you in the process of settling an estate of a loved one. by Darrell G.
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This publication really helped in giving a guide to the process of fulfilling your loved ones last wishes. Not only does it guide you on the steps you need to take but also explains some of the terminology that are used in state and federal laws pertaining to a decedents estate. (Posted on 11/18/2019)
- a place to get guidance by Keith W.
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I have purchased this book more than once. I have provided this book to friends that have loss loved ones. it is a good resource to help people with the challenging task of setting their loved ones passing (Posted on 10/11/2019)
- Very helpful by Nolo C.
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This book helped as I ventured into settling my son’s estate. Very helpful as I proceed on this very difficult journey. As always, Nolo Press books are well written and extremely helpful. (Posted on 8/2/2019)
- Review by Vicki C.
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I received my book several weeks ago and I am very pleased with all the information I learned reading through it. Easy to lookuo and refer back to the book as needed (Posted on 4/8/2019)
- Excellent Translation of Legalese! by Ann T.
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I purchased this book to help write a "Letter of Instruction" as an accompaniment to legal estate planning documents (e.g., will and trust). The verbiage in the legal documents is nearly indecipherable to one with no training in legalese. This book makes it all so clear! Thank you Nolo! (Posted on 3/8/2019)
- Be prepared. by Jackie B.
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I gave this book to my oldest son, executor of my estate. His in-laws are alive and I suspect he will handling their estate also. It's an easy read and a great gift. (Posted on 1/20/2019)
- Be prepared. by Jackie B.
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I gave this as an Xmas gift to my oldest son, my executor when needed. I haven't read it but while previewing it before the purchase, I was very impressed. (Posted on 12/30/2018)
- Save yourself time, money, and headaches when serving as an executor by Juliann W.
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I first used the Executor's Guide in 2004 when I served as executor for my mother's estate. I could have served as executor without the Executor's Guide. However, the Executor's Guide saved me a significant amount of time (figuring out what I needed to do and how), money (paying a lawyer to do things that I was able to do myself), and angst. I have since given the Executor's Guide to four other people who were first time executors, to guide them through the process. (Posted on 11/27/2018)
- Review by DALE T.
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exactly what I needed (Posted on 10/22/2018)
- Everthing one needs to know written in plain English. by Dayle R. Reilly
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The Executor's Guide 8th edition by Mary Randolph, J. D. is the first book where I found information written in simple language for a lay person. The examples and tips in the book actually help to understand what to do. This is an excellent resource book that provides the knowledge needed when consulting with a trust attorney. (Posted on 9/30/2018)
- Review by Anonymous
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As it turned out, I did not need the guide and did not use it. As advised by NOLO, I donated the book to the local library and was issued a credit on my purchase. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Generic in content by Anonymous
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I found the Guide generic in information. After paying for the cost of the book, I was unable to find any information relative to my case which involved estate litigation, specifically, with respect to having to file an action against an heir for undue influence and fraud relating to a Power of Attorney signed by the decedent prior to death, and secondly, guidance on how to evict an occupier of the decedent's property, to wit, another beneficiary not paying rent and preventing executor's access to perform repairs to property, list for sale and have access to show to prospective purchasers. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Great Road Map by Anonymous
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The book is divided into many chapters, each with multiple sections. The chapter and section titles make it easy to find material that's relevant to your situation and skip material that's not. Saves a lot of time and avoids a lot of frustration. The content is written and organized well, and presented in language that's not burdened by excessive "legalese". Overall, the book presents a very helpful road map and identifies lots of important things to do and to avoid. Well worth the price! (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Useful overview for the Personal Representative by Anonymous
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This is useful for a personal representative to read about the probate process. I used this after I was almost done and it would have saved me time if I had read at the beginning of the process. Probate is confusing and involves legal, tax, and estate management issues. You will need a lawyer to consult and someone to do the taxes. You will deal with county, state, and federal offices that can impose financial and legal penalties if the personal representative makes a mistake. In my case if I don't use a lawyer and accountant l cannot use my lack of legal knowledge as an excuse for mistakes. This book gives a good overview so you can understand what the lawyer and accountant do for you and to make sure they do a proper job. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- BUY THIS BOOK BEFORE A LOVED ONE PASSES by FRANK H.
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EXCELLENT RESOURCE!! I just wished I had it on early to save a lot of time and headaches (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Review by John W.
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Great source of information for preplanning (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Review by Mary S.
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It is a very helpful, thorough guide to being an executor. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Helpful by JJ C.
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Very helpful. Still scary without an actual lawyer, but helpful in planning and knowing what to ask. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Straight forward how-to advice by Dale M.
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I'm settling a fairly simple estate. Thankfully, we planned ahead, so many of the financial assets were TOD (transfer on death), requiring no probate. There are no complex situations such as this book describes, so much of the book is not relevant to my situation. But the organization of The Executor's Guide is brilliant: it sets forth what you need do and when you need do it. For first-time executors like myself it is invaluable to be given a heads-up on the type of record-keeping you need to do and files you'll have to set up. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Essential by Lee C.
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After finding a copy of The Executor's Guide at the local library I knew right away that I needed one of my own. It is and will be essential for me and my executrix.Easy to understand and well organized. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Outstanding reference by Wesley G.
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Outstanding reference. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
- Review by Don R.
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A useful and comprehensive guide. Recommended. (Posted on 6/26/2018)
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