The Executor's Handbook. Everything You Need to Know About Managing a NSW Deceased Estate.
You've been named executor of someone's estate. Maybe it's a parent. Maybe it's a sibling. Maybe it's a friend. Either way, you now have legal responsibilities you didn't sign up for and probably don't fully understand yet.
The good news: executing an estate is manageable. The bad news: it's complex, it takes time, and there are things you can get wrong that are expensive to fix. This handbook is built for NSW executors who want to understand what they're actually responsible for, what the timeline looks like, where things usually go wrong, and when to bring in professional help.
It's ungated. Everything here is free to read and share. You can also download the full handbook (PDF) and get an executor's checklist. If you get to a point where the property side is overwhelming, I'm here to help with deceased estate clearance and probate property management. But this handbook is yours either way.
Who This Is For
You're in your 50s or 60s with your own life and work. Someone's died. They've left you as executor. You've got legal responsibility and absolutely no idea where to start.
You're managing a deceased estate where the family is split across Australia (or the world), and you're the one stuck coordinating the property and the paperwork from a distance.
You're a co-executor and you need clarity on who does what and how to divvy up the work.
You've got concerns about whether you're handling things correctly. You want a checklist. You want to know what you're supposed to be doing and in what order.
The property is a problem. It's been let go. There's a lot of stuff in it. You don't know whether to clear it before selling or try to sell it as-is. You don't know who to call or in what order.
This handbook is designed for all of those situations.
What's Inside the Handbook
Executor Legal Responsibilities
What you're actually responsible for. Locating and securing assets. Managing debts. Getting the Grant of Probate. Accounting for the estate. Distributing to beneficiaries. The timeline. Common mistakes that cost money to fix.
NSW Probate Process
The step-by-step probate timeline. What's involved in getting a Grant of Probate. Timeframes. What triggers delays. What can speed things up.
Executor Checklist
A practical list to work through. File organisation. Document gathering. Notification. Asset location. Debt identification. Property securing. Sale or distribution preparation. Step-by-step, nothing missed.
Deceased Estate Insurance
What insurance matters during an estate. Landlord insurance on the vacant property. Contents insurance. Liability coverage. What changes when someone dies. What you need to verify immediately.
Property Valuation
How property value is determined for probate. When you need professional valuation. DIY approximation methods. Contents valuation. When things like jewellery need separate appraisal.
Vacant Property Maintenance
Keeping a property secure and maintained while you're managing probate. Regular inspections. Pest control. Weatherproofing. Security. Utilities management. The things that rot properties when they're sitting empty.
Document Recovery
Where critical documents hide in deceased estates. Wills (and why there might be multiple versions). Deeds and property documents. Financial records. Insurance policies. Superannuation information. What to search for and where to look.
Clearing Before Sale
Whether you should clear a deceased estate before listing it. Cost-benefit analysis. Timeline impact. When clearing makes sense and when it doesn't. How to budget for it. What to expect.
Working With Solicitors
How to brief a probate lawyer. What they'll do and what they won't. How their fees work. Red flags to watch for. How to communicate what you need.
Common Mistakes
Things executors get wrong that end up being expensive. Distributing before probate is finalised. Not locating all assets. Forgetting beneficiaries exist. Not maintaining the property. Tax implications you didn't anticipate. Paying things you shouldn't have.
When to Bring in Professional Help
You don't need a full property management firm. But there are moments when calling a professional saves you money and stress. This section covers those moments: complex clearing, property stabilisation, large acreage, hazardous materials, multi-state complications, family conflict that's paralyses decision-making.
Hoarder Situations and Distressed Estates
Deceased estates sometimes involve houses where someone's been hoarding. Or where the property has been neglected for years. This section covers: health and safety in hoarder situations, proper document recovery when there's extreme volume, cost and timeline expectations, and whether to clear before or after selling.
Multi-State Estates
When the deceased has property in multiple states, or when beneficiaries are spread across Australia. Dealing with multiple probates. Timeline implications. Which state's rules take priority. How to coordinate work across jurisdictions.
How to Use This Handbook
Start with the Executor Checklist. Print it. It's your roadmap. Work through it sequentially. Cross things off as you go. It'll take weeks or months. That's normal.
Read the sections relevant to your situation. You don't need to read everything. If the estate is simple and doesn't involve property, skip the property sections. If you're managing a large acreage with lots of land, focus on that section.
Reference the document recovery section early. Do a systematic search of the property for critical documents. Get that done before clearing or selling. It'll save time and prevent regrets later.
The legal sections exist so you understand probate. You don't need to memorise them. Use them to understand the timeline, what your solicitor should be doing, and when things are taking longer than they should.
If the property is a problem, read the relevant property section and then call. If the clearing is overwhelming. If the property's in bad condition. If you don't know whether to sell it as-is or clear first. There's no shame in bringing in someone who manages this stuff for a living.
The Executor's Checklist
A downloadable checklist that breaks probate and estate management into discrete tasks. Print it. Check off items as you complete them. Share it with co-executors if you have them. It's your roadmap for the next 6 to 12 months.
Read the Full Handbook
Two ways to read the handbook end to end:
Immersive Reader - The full handbook in a single, designed reading experience. Best for sitting down and reading in one go.
Download the PDF - The same content, downloadable for offline reading or sharing with co-executors. No email required.
When the Handbook Isn't Enough
The handbook handles the legal and planning side of executing an estate. But sometimes the property work is the bottleneck. The house is full of decades of stuff. It's in poor condition. It needs clearing before it can sell. The sheer volume of work is overwhelming.
That's when the handbook tells you to call. And that's when I can help. I manage the property side through deceased estate clearance and probate property management. Clearing, stabilisation, document recovery, compliance, preparing the property for sale or distribution. You focus on the legal and financial work. I focus on the operational side.
I also work with trustees and bring professional support to estates across the Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, and Inner West. Every suburb has its own property profile and market dynamics.
If you're at that point, I'm happy to talk through your situation. Phone 0428 613 163 or email info@aegispropertyconsultants.com.au. Tell me what's happening with the property, and I'll tell you what's realistic and what it'd cost.
FAQs About the Handbook
Is the handbook really free?
Yes. Download it. Share it. Print it. It's yours to use.
Do I have to give you my email?
No. The checklist download is ungated. If you want it sent as an email attachment too, you can provide your email, but it's optional. We don't spam. You can unsubscribe any time.
What if my situation is complicated?
The handbook covers most common situations. If your estate is unusual (multi-state, multiple properties, complex asset mix), you'll need a solicitor. The handbook will help you understand what to ask them for.
What if the property is the problem?
That's covered in the handbook, and it's also covered in the deceased estate clearance and probate property management pages on this site. If you've read those and you're still unsure, call. A 10-minute conversation is better than months of uncertainty.
Can I use this if I'm not in NSW?
The handbook is specific to NSW probate law and process. Other states have different rules. If you're managing an estate in another state, some of this will be relevant, but you'll need to verify the timeline and process with a local solicitor.
Is there a cost if I end up needing help with the property?
If you download the handbook and then later decide you need help with clearing or property stabilisation, we'd discuss options and provide a quote. There's no obligation from reading the handbook. It's genuinely a free resource.
If You're Overwhelmed
If you're reading this because you've just become an executor and the whole thing is overwhelming, that's normal. You're not alone. Plenty of people in their 50s and 60s are suddenly managing estates while holding down jobs and managing their own lives.
Start with the checklist. Read the sections relevant to your situation. Get a probate solicitor if you don't already have one. And if the property becomes the problem, that's what I'm here for.
You've got this. It just takes time.
If the Property Work Gets Overwhelming
If you're managing a deceased estate and the property side is the bottleneck, I'm the person to call. I handle clearing, stabilisation, document recovery, and preparation for sale or distribution. You handle the legal and financial work. We both do our jobs properly.
If this sounds relevant to your situation, I'm happy to talk it through. No obligation, no sales script. Phone 0428 613 163 or email info@aegispropertyconsultants.com.au.