General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: At almost age 76, I just announced my retirement. [View all]MineralMan
(146,250 posts)My first job as trustee of the family trust was to shepherd that sale through to closing, which happened three months after they died. It wasn't easy. The buyer and the buyer's broker had just about given up on completing the sale. I carefully worked with them to make it happen, with the help of the trust's attorney.
I learned a great deal about trusts and estate matters during that process. The attorney warned me that the sale might not happen and the orchard might have to be relisted to try again. I wasn't having any of that, and managed to keep everyone happy and complete the sale. The proceeds have now been distributed to the trust's beneficiaries. Very complicated, especially when done from 2500 miles away.
The last of their assets will be collected and distributed next week, ending most of the responsibility I had as trustee and executor. The attorney said that it was all done in record time, based on his long experience as an estate attorney. I did much of the legwork and research for him, once he understood that I was capable of doing it. That saved tons of money in attorney fees.