Taking Inventory

The central duty of an executor is to gather property and keep it safe until it can be handed over to the people who inherit it. But where do you start? Usually it's best to take an inventory. You don't need to count every teaspoon (unless they're sterling silver), but you do need to have a firm grasp on what's in the estate.

It will probably take a while to put together a complete picture of all the assets. You may find bank accounts you didn't know about, forgotten insurance policies, or cash stuffed in a drawer. Long-lost treasures may even turn up, though you're probably not going to be able to retire by selling heirlooms that have been sitting in the attic.