How do I know I’ve picked the right Personal Representative for my Estate?

On Behalf of | Apr 30, 2020 | Estate Planning

As a Washington resident with assets, creating an estate plan is vital. A plan allows you to pass your assets to your loved ones with minimal legal hurdles. One of the most important steps you can take is selecting the personal representative of your estate. This step alone can take significant time and thought.

Today we will look at some factors that may set someone apart from others as a good personal representative. You may wish to look for these qualities when selecting your own personal representative.

Objective qualities of a Personal Representative

HuffPost looks at the qualifications for a good personal representative. Some of these qualities are subjective while others are more objective. The objective qualities often focus upon the individual’s professional skills. Handling someone else’s estate is a big project. It is important that your personal representative understand this. It may benefit you both if the personal representative has prior experience working on other big projects. They should:

  • Have strong organizational skills
  • Work well on their own without external motivation or supervision
  • Have good time management habits

It is also important for them to have good interpersonal and communicative skills. They will be communicating with your loved ones and family about your wishes and your estate. It is important that they understand how to empathize with grieving individuals while maintaining a professional approach.

A Personal Representative’s subjective qualities

On a subjective level, it is important for a personal representative to generally share your values and priorities. This is important because your personal representative will act as a stand-in for you after your passing. It will give you peace of mind to know they will likely make the same choices and decisions you would make.

Finding a personal representative is not an easy task. If you keep these suggestions in mind, you will choose a person who best suits you.