How to Settle an Estate: Closing Up the House

When you are settling an estate, the last thing you want to do is pack up the deceased's belongings, clear out their clutter, and close up the house. Unfortunately, it's one of the first things you have to do. Most "how to settle an estate" advice pretends this emotionally stressful task has magically been finished and skips right to the legal paperwork stage.

I'm going to assume that at least one family member - probably the one who never visited the deceased- will cause a stink about the personal property. Good record keeping will minimize your problems with this person. Keep careful track of all your expenses (receipts for packing boxes, the rent on a storage unit, etc.) because you are entitled to be repaid from the estate for these expenses.

Always get several certified copies of the death certificate as soon as possible ... you will need them to deal with landlords, mortgage companies, utility companies, and others. I found out five years after my mother's death that I needed yet another certificate for my credit union.

The Process

Your objective is to get this done with as little stress to yourself as possible and get as much value for the estate as possible. These are contradictory goals, but if you have realistic expectations, you can do it. If you have friends and family members helping you, it can become a way to share the memories and the load. You might spend an hour sobbing after finding a memento, but it's part of the process.

Bring a couple of large trash cans, a box of large trash bags, several boxes of tissues, and some packing material: boxes, padding, tape, marking pens, and labels. Quickly inventory, pack, and remove any high-value items to a safe place. Thieves read the death announcements looking for targets. The funeral is a good time for them to hit, so notify the police and have someone house-sitting during the services.

Then, dispose of all visible trash, opened food, and opened toiletries. Unopened food and toiletries can be given to a food bank or charity. Keep the receipt for the legal paperwork stage.