By Jen McMillan -
Snapshot
- Before distributing the estate, take a step back and check whether everything is ready to go.
- Make sure all outstanding liabilities have been identified and paid.
- Double-check that the proposed distribution accurately reflects the terms of the will.
Once an estate has been distributed to the beneficiaries, it can be very difficult for an executor to claw back funds if needed. Lawcover receives a number of claims that could have been prevented if more care was taken before the estate was distributed to identify potential liabilities and to ensure the estate is distributed correctly. Be aware of the pitfalls and use the tips below to develop a checklist to minimise the risks when finalising your estate administration files.