What is a Personal Representative?

A Personal Representative (PR) is an individual or institution you place in charge of settling your estate after your death. 

What are the Personal Representative’s responsibilities?

As personal representative, GCS will petition the courts and obtain Letters of Testamentary. This legal appointment then provides GCS with the authority to act on behalf of the estate. We will open an estate bank account, notify creditors, pay ongoing expenses, liquidate real property, organize an estate sale, liquidate assets, organize tax filings, create an inventory, prepare an estate accounting, and distribute estate assets to the designated heirs.

Terminology:

  • Decedent: A person who has died.
  • Executor: a person or institution appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of their will.
  • Testator: a person who has made a will.
  • Letters of Testamentary: a document issued by a court or public official authorizing the executor of a will to take control of a deceased person's estate.
  • Heirs: a person(s) who are legally entitled to property