Losing a parent or loved one is always sad, and it's one of the hardest things that we need to deal with in life.  While sometimes the person was sick and we tried to prepare ourselves, it is never easy.  And, it takes time to heal.  Of course, along with this grief (and while we often aren't thinking straight), we sometimes find ourselves needing to manage an inheritance, and all of the complications associated with that.  When there's a house involved in the process, it adds a whole new level of responsibility...and of course carries memories and emotions along with it. And, it can feel overwhelming.

So, I've gathered a few articles together that I thought would be helpful for those going through the process.  These articles do not cover the grief end (which is very real), but rather it covers some of the process of dealing with the house, probate and important steps to take.  The faster you have closure on some of the items, the more it usually helps bring closure to the grieving.  And, the faster you can move on with other areas of your life.

EXECUTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

One of the first things you want to do is start the probate process and make sure an Executor is appointed.  This is important to establish up front and right aways as this person will be responsible for making sure the Will is carried out in the way it should be, and make sure all the bills and debts are paid and settled in a proper and legal way.  The Executor has a lot of responibilities and you can read about them in this article:  18 Important Executor duties.  Do not delay on this.  And, be sure to hire an estate attorney to guide you through the process so you don't make any mistakes.

In fact, it's very easy to make a mistake unknowingly at the beginning of the process (e.g. paying the bills out of your own account rather than the estate's bank account).  This article outlines the 8 most common mistakes Executors make and how to avoid them.

WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE HOUSE?

If you've inherited a house, you then need to decide what to do with it - will you move into it, rent it, or sell it?  (And, actually, there's a little known 4th option as well).  This article from Anita Clark walks you through the pros and cons for each of the options for inherited home and shared the overlooked 4th option (if you need an escape parachute).

When thinking about these decisions, you want to look at the big picture with the estate - is the estate solvent or insolvent.  This means are there enough assets to pay off the existing debts (e.g. remaining mortgage, taxes, other debts) ... in which case it's solvent.  If there aren't enough assets, the estate may be insolvent...or you may NEED to sell the house into to pay things off.  It's also important to consider the tax implications (and savings) of an inherited house.  Many are surprised to learn the implications of inheriting an estate - see 7 Things that may surprise you if you inherit a house.

SELLING THE HOUSE

Usually, when someone inherits the house, there is a lot of to, especially if the person lived there for 30 or more years.  Clutter builds up, and often there is deferred maintainance.  This article from Bill Gassett walks you through how to prepare an inherited house for the market and choose a real estate agent.  And, check out this complete guide on how to sell an inherited house to settle an estate.  It walks you through the process from start to finish with reaources on how to clear the clutter, hold an estate sale and many other useful tips.

It's never fun to handle an inheritance, and it can be time consuming and stressful, especially as it stirs up memories of your lost relative.  It can also remind us all of our own vulnerability.  I hope that these guides are helpful, and will allow you to focus on the task at handle, and get through it faster.  Having closure always helps.  My best advice to you is to hire competent and capable professionals (e.g estate attorney, CPA, real estate agent, etc.). They will guide you through the process...and actually save you both time and money in the process.  This is one of those times where it really pays to hire the right people.