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Estate Administration Information and Checklist

In administering the estate, the Personal Representative, or their counsel, will need the following:

Documentation (as recent as possible) for property held in joint names and in decedent's name only:

Car titles Bank statements Brokerage account statements Life insurance policies IRA statements; beneficiary designations Pensions and annuities statements Stock and Bond certificates Social Security checks received for month following month of death Original receipts of funeral expenses Deeds for real property

Also:

Original will Three years income tax returns Contents of Safe Deposits Box Current addresses and social security numbers of all children

If there is no surviving spouse:

Address change with U.S. Post Office - if we are serving as counsel, we prefer to receive the mail at our offices. Notice of Fiduciary Relationship, Form 56, filed with IRS - if we are serving as counsel, we will prepare this form.

If there will be a Maryland and/or Federal Estate Tax Return (estate valued over $1,000,000) we will arrange for:

Appraisal of home Appraisal of decedent's joint or solely-owned personal property (home's contents + automobiles, boats, etc.) ** Return is due 9 months following date of death **

Social Security

If the decedent receives a payment for the month following the month of death, and if the decedent had Direct Deposit, Social Security will electronically take the payment back. If a paper check is received, it must be returned. If the surviving spouse also receives Social Security, the survivor will receive the higher amount of the two checks, but only one payment. The surviving spouse must phone Social Security @ 1-800-772-1213 (press 6 for a representative) to report status as surviving spuse and answer a few questions to update the survivor's benefits.

Retain for your Records:

Canceled checks and bank statements for five years prior to death. Keep these at least until closing letter from Maryland Comptroller or IRS is received (if a Maryland and/or Federal Estate Tax Return is required).

For accounts in joint name:

Notify the bank, broker, etc. of death and direct them to place the accounts in survivor's name alone, They may require a death certificate.