When you are gone, who will take your place? This is a thought that has occupied every generation since the beginnings of our time. It used to be a simple matter of making sure there were children to continue through life, but now we have more complicated concerns like how we will support the people and the causes we love when we are gone.
One of the most important moves you can make to secure the future of your estate is picking the right executor for your will. An executor is the person who takes your place when it comes to the possessions and assets you will leave behind.
Your executor should generally be someone reliable and in good financial standing. You want someone who will not only listen to your wishes but be able to make them realities. It’s also important that this person survive you, so name at least one possibility who is significantly younger than you.
It may help to think this person will be close by, but the location of your executor does not matter as much as it used to. A good executor may even be able to do his or her job from another country. As long as she or he has the access and information needed, most things are possible.
Naming an executor and other parts of the estate planning process are often easier with the help of a lawyer. An attorney can advise on the most appropriate moves to make based on your situation and the wishes you have for the future of your assets.