Originally Posted by
jsearles22
I recently had another death in my family. I am now the heir and sole beneficiary of my grandmothers estate. My issue is this is close to 1000 miles from me. So I will be tasked with following probate process. I’ll need to go through the home for family heirlooms and misc items. But otherwise I need to dispose of the daily mundane stuff (example 42” plasma tv. Sure it works fine but not worth hauling home and I don’t have time or ability to sell locally). Fridge, table, beds, the list goes on. Do I try to have an estate sale? Or just use this service:
https://www.junkluggers.com/estate-cleanouts.html ?
I’ve also never been through the process. Do I hire a lawyer or is it a waste of money? Transferring mail, acquiring bank accounts, paying utility bills, getting the house appraised/sold etc are all things to handle. All during Covid as well. Just a pain in the ass.
My grandma is why I play poker though. I remember huge games in her basement every weekend during summer visits. And I mean like $10,000 changing hands back in the 80s. My grandma had stories about arrests and robberies etc.
Any advice, input, ideas etc greatly appreciated. Should I get cameras installed to monitor? Or is that pointless? So many things........
did your grandmother leave a will/or a trust document? you will need a family law attorney if the estate is over a certain size and you need to go through probate.
also, inform the IRS that you are the executor/trustee of the estate (file form 56) and that you will be responsible for seeing your grandmother's final lifetime tax returns are filed (2020 and 2021).
also, an estate/legal entity comes into being at the end of her life, so get a tax id for the estate by applying with the IRS for that (Form SS4 or online), then get a bank account for the estate...the bank will require a tax id...deposit in it all proceeds from sales of assets, pay all expenses from that account--you tax preparer with thank you for that--as well as you accountant if a court accounting is required by the probate court. The estate will need to file a tax return for the years the estate is open, probably just one as the estate sounds like a simple one.
get extra copies of the death certificate, 5 or maybe even 10---closing off accounts with various services will require your showing that (life alert, cell phone, car insurance, etc)
emptying the house can be a problem--so many things are hazardous material (paint, cleaners, oil, solvents, e-waste, glass, etc) that can't be tossed in the trash
also, go through the documents and sort out what needs to shredded
file a change of address with the post office and have her mail forwarded to you for up to a year
if you host a meal after the funeral be sure to make it a no-host bar---you guests will drink you into the poorhouse!
watch out for relatives coming around asking for stuff---don't feel obligated to give away things of value no matter how moving the story is they tell you--you are the one your grandmother chose to leave her things to and chances are the stuff you give away will wind up at a swap meet.