Julia saw the “huge weight” of estate administration on her own family in the past, so when she wrote her own will she knew she’d name Public Trust as executor.
This means Public Trust will administer her estate when she dies.
Julia, a Dunedin resident who recently updated her will when she remarried, saw how the estate administration process works when her father died. The process was complex with a family member as the executor. It was very messy, she says.
“It put a huge weight of responsibility and emotional load on the person who was executing the will. I just wouldn’t want to do that to someone I love, and I’m also a big fan of relying on experts.” (Read more here about choosing an executor: Choosing an executor)
“I think it’s good to have an impartial executor that is an expert at what they do, just to avoid complications and added emotional stress at a time that is already difficult.”
New will for a new relationship
Julia and her husband at the time created wills, but they separated about 10 years ago.
“When I got into a relationship with my now wife, Sam, I knew I needed to make sure everything was clear for everyone,” Julia says.
It’s important to review your will every three years, or when there’s a change of circumstances relating to assets (perhaps receiving an inheritance) or a significant life event – a birth, death, marriage or divorce.
Executor responsibilities made easy with Public Trust
You can choose to name Public Trust to be your executor when you make your will. We specialise in estate administration services, helping to ease the burden on family or friends who might otherwise take on this demanding and sometimes complicated role.
Take the burden off loved ones: Benefits of choosing Public Trust
· Faster access to funds: We can call in some assets straight after death, so urgent bills like insurance may be able to be paid without waiting for probate – protecting property and easing financial stress for your family.
· Faster administration for smaller estates: If your estate is under $120,000, we can file a simpler application, speeding things up and lowering court costs from $269 to just $40.
· Clear pricing from the start: At the start, we’ll give you a clear plan outlining the steps we take, and an estimate of the time and costs involved. Our fees are based on the work we do, not a value of the estate. We charge a combination of fixed fees for the standard work we complete for all estates and hourly rates for additional work.
· Access to discounted services: We pass on savings from trusted third parties like real estate agents and property clearers.