Published July 31, 2026
I've been quiet lately, focusing on client work and building out my services. It's nice to be back!
One theme that's come up frequently in my client work is that sometimes in estate administration, slowing down is wiser than speeding up. I myself have been guilty of rushing things and then discovering the consequences later.
So I'm sharing a couple of short pieces I wrote this month on this topic...
Estate Administration feels like Tetris, but it's actually Oregon Trail.
In the early days after a loss, a relentless trickle of practical tasks may fall upon the deceased's next of kin / executor from many sources: well-meaning loved ones, non-well-meaning loved ones, the funeral director, the attorney, their own bolt-upright-middle-of-the-night revelations, etc.
Already overwhelmed with grief, the person tasked with settling their loved one's affairs may try to keep the to-do list manageable by taking action and clearing the board as quickly as possible. They think it's like Tetris, where you'll never get buried if you think and act quickly each time something new descends upon you.
Although this makes sense, it's not really how estate administration works. Tetris is inherently simple, rote, and rewards speed.
A better metaphor for estate administration is Oregon Trail, where success depends not on speed but on appropriate sequencing of tasks and pacing. Sometimes it makes sense to speed up, and sometimes it makes sense to rest your oxen. Before you ford the river (aka transfer funds into an estate account), you need to wait for the ferry (aka letters testamentary) to arrive. Try to do it too soon, and you could lose important resources!
Settling a loved one's affairs efficiently--and with minimal emotional burden--isn't just about clearing tasks. It requires knowing that you're playing Oregon Train (not Tetris), and getting guidance on the sequencing and pacing of the journey's work.
Three things families should not rush after a death
After a close loved one passes, immediate family members may have the nagging sense that there are a million practical tasks to do. They're not wrong. But some of the most common estate administration mistakes actually happen when families act too quickly.
Here are a few things to wait on if you're the executor of a loved one's estate:
- Distributing the deceased's personal property to heirs. Why you should wait: In most cases, personal property passes to heirs according to a will and under the oversight of probate court. Outstanding debts and administrative expenses must be paid before the court gives the executor the green light to distribute assets. Even if the deceased promised her diamond engagement ring to her granddaughter both verbally and in a will, the executor should wait--often many months!--before giving it to the granddaughter.
- Turning off cellphone service. Why you should wait: the deceased's phone may hold important photos, documents, information about assets... and be required for account log-ins.
- Shutting down credit cards. Why you should wait: The deceased are often targets of fraud, so don't let this go too long. Make sure any recurring payments for important things--utilities, for example--have been moved to a different payment method before closing accounts.
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For informational purposes only; not legal or financial advice.