When making your estate plan, you need to select an executor. This person will hold crucial responsibilities and a fair amount of power, so it is important to choose wisely.
Your first instinct may have you leaning toward one of your relatives. But is a relative actually going to serve you best in this matter?
Choosing someone you trust
Forbes discusses ways to choose the best executor for your estate. Most people lean toward their family members because they know their family better than anyone else, and the reverse is often true as well.
It is important for your executor to be someone who knows you well, and who can execute decisions on your behalf that you yourself would make. However, it is not the only factor that should go into your choice.
Choosing someone with executorial skills
Because executors hold such responsibility and power, a good executor will often have numerous other skills, too. This can include:
- Strong time management
- The ability to self-monitor and self-regulate
- A sense of duty and responsibility
- The ability to work well with others
On top of that, your executor needs a certain amount of social grace and skill, too. After all, they will handle communications with your beneficiaries, who will likely be grieving during first meetings.
Some family members will have what it takes to accomplish these tasks. Others may not. It is important to pick someone who not only knows you well and that you can trust, but someone who has the skills necessary to pull off the actual responsibilities of the role.