Sadly, after hearing of a death, some people come to take heirlooms or to steal. Lock things up quickly to prevent theft. The executor is in charge of taking care of the estate, so if you are the executor and theft or damage occurs, you could be liable.

Here are some things to remember to check:

• Lock up the deceased’s home
• Make sure that the car is parked in a safe and legal area
• Make sure that valuables (such as jewelry, cash, and collectibles) are in a safe place
• Tell the landlord or property manager and ask them to keep an eye on the property if it will be vacant
• Consider changing the locks on the home if you suspect that someone may try to steal something before personal items have been given away
• Also check if the deceased owned a storage unit, and if so, how to gain access to it, whether it needs to be paid for, etc. For instructions on how to do this, click here