When we think about a loss of independence, being unable to drive or live on…
It Took an Executor to Build Executorium.com
Founder’s Journey
Cocktail napkins, scraps of paper, and yellow legal pads – that’s how Executorium began.
But the first spark was lit when estate executor George Compton searched for resources to understand the job – and found nothing. Meanwhile, those scraps of paper and “e-mails to self” accumulated.
“An executor ought to know…Wish I’d known that…Where was this when I was executor?”
Communicating, educating, and disseminating information were already my professional skills, since I was then the Executive Director of an association of construction professionals. My personal experience as an executor and professional background converged, and Executorium began to take form.
I knew it had to be executor-facing, and it had to be simple. Most of all, it had to provide a view of the landscape, so executors could get their heads around the job at hand.
“I felt like the new guy. It was a lot of responsibility. Lots of unfamiliar, disparate tasks in a new environment. It was an emotional time, and it can take hundreds of hours.”
“Executors walk away from the graveside with a briefcase and a life to unravel. Poof! You’re the executor. Good luck!”
Hence, Executorium.com!
Executorium’s Mission
The mission of Executorium is to be a Resource for Executors and Estates. How?
- Stand in an executor’s shoes
- Assume no prior estate knowledge
- Provide visibility of resources: local, state, and national – both private and government
- Flatten the learning curve
- Provide context and experience.
Executorium seeks to clarify many of the real-time experiences an executor may face. It shines a light on the work within an estate, the responsibilities of an executor, and the challenges of estate administration and settlement.
An Open Resource for Executors and Estates
We’re a resource for Executors and Administrators, as well as “Personal Representatives.”
Executorium.com is open access. No login, no paywall, no registration!
Our website includes:
- Articles addressing common estate issues and learning opportunities.
- References to vital estate information.
- Directories of local estate service providers and government pages (federal, state, and county), laying out essential government probate and estate resources.
We strive to make the executor’s duties more familiar, because awareness and information visibility is key to a successful estate administration.
Poof! You’re an Executor…
Now what? Well, every estate is different. Every family is different. And every state is different.
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
- Abraham Lincoln
But we know executors are busy enough jumping from task to task to spend much time learning the job. So, we relay fundamentals, practical information, and context quickly and efficiently. It is designed so a browse through the site provides exposure to estate administration’s many new experiences.
Executorium.com is organized into four sections:
- Articles – Articles across the scope of estate administration, from guest authors and the publishers of Executorium.
- Learning – Resources and references across the estate administration environment.
- Estate Service Providers Directory – Professionals that service the needs of executors and estates, organized by profession, state, and county.
- Government Pages Directory – Selected federal, state, and local resources to guide and assist executors.
Executorium even features advertisers with purpose: those whose products and services attend to the needs of an estate. Our ads put resources on executors’ radars – and pay the bills. Two birds; one stone!
Finally, our social media channels curate and share executor-facing content.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Executorium
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/executorium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@executorium
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/executorium
Provide a View of the Landscape
One of my hardest executor’s lessons was that after it was over, I realized, “Huh. If I ever had to do that again, I’d be a lot better at it.” I had made mistakes. I had missed stuff. Now I had all this experience, but that was it – never again. But I wasn’t the new guy anymore.
Because of this realization, we endeavor to help executors see what’s out there. It does not matter if it’s on Executorium or elsewhere – as long as the executor has it on their radar.
For example, there are some very good ‘Guidelines for Executors’ out there. Don’t miss them.
Read them. Sharpen that axe!
- com’s Estate Settlement Guide
- The American Bar Association – Guidelines for Individual Executors & Trustees
- EstateExec: Executor’s Guide
These guides are symbolic of Executorium’s mission: showing executors where the help is – wherever it is, on-site or off – and sharing it openly to help estates move forward!
Executors Execute
An executor’s tasks involve the estate, probate, family, and legacy. Executorium endeavors to educate across many estate-related topics, and offer routes to solutions. We’re especially focused on shining light on those resources which may be unknown to executors, and which solve practical estate challenges or make the job easier. Some examples are:
- “What do I do with all these photos?”
Estate Talks: Family Legacy: Photo Management: The Photo Managers
Preserving Memories: Antique Photo Care
Legacy Management/Photo Organizers in New York City
- “We have a lot of used medical equipment. Can I donate?”
Unused Medical Supplies and Equipment: National Council on Aging Guide
Guide to Donation of Personal Medical Equipment
Guide to Donation of Prosthetic Equipment
Used Eyeglasses Wanted!
Wanted! Hearing Aids
- “My dad owned many guns. I don’t know a thing about guns.”
Take Steps to Mitigate Risk When an Estate Owns Firearms
- “The thought of cleaning out everything is blowing my mind!”
Estate Talks: Insider Tips from Executor/Estate Cleanout Professional
Estate Cleanout 101: Understanding Dumpsters
DIY Garage Sale/Yard Sale Advice HERE
Supplies: Bring this for House Packing, Estate Cleanout and Organization
Guide to Donation
Estate Service Providers Directory: Fairfax County, Virginia: Cleanout: It’s Haul Good
- “What should I do with all the old books?”
Vintage & Antique Books, Paperbacks Too – What To Do?
Estate Talks Podcast: What’s on the Estate Shelves with Guest Steve Eisenstein
Estate Service Providers Directory: Morris County, New Jersey: Wanted: Old Book Shop
- “I’m struggling with my grief. This is harder than I thought.”
Guest Blog: Grieving after a Long Term Illness
Executor Road: On Grieving a parent from an Ex-executor
Estate Talks: Grief Support – What to Expect
Estate Service Providers Directory: Sussex County, New Jersey: Grief Support:
Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center
Please note the Learning Section, Articles, and Directories are constantly updated and revised. New content is added frequently. Executorium is a constantly growing resource.
Conclusion
Executor of the Estate, Administrator, Personal Representative…while these terms sound fancy, they usually mean an individual that just lost a parent or other loved one – and the one who will clean out their dresser. They’ll spend hours and hours going through drawers, boxes, and memories. They’ll be working through paperwork, forms and records. And that’s just some parts of the job. There’s nothing fancy about estate administration and probate!
Executorium.com is a hub. At its center is the executor, endeavoring to navigate estate administration and probate. We just figured that job does not need to be harder – it needs to be easier. If Executorium can arrange resources and information around the hub that helps the executor move the estate forward, with less pain and frustration – we have accomplished our mission.
George Compton is the Publisher of Executorium.com. He is on a mission to improve communication and visibility in the estate administration environment for executors and personal representatives.
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