Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-01-28
STRAIGHT TALKS /
WITH AUNT EMMY
ON HOW TO LEAVE AN ESTATE:

do you know. Aunty." said Helen.
as she accepted cup of tea from
Aunt Emmy, II feel terribly sorry for
Mrs. Strong"
"Yes." agreed Aunt Emmy. ut will
be hard for her. She Is such de-
pendent, helpless, little thing"
.Oh, don't mean that" interrupt
ed Helen. Her feelings are so hurt
because, as she says. her husband
publicly insulted her by not making
her executrix and trustee of his es-
tate"
"Good gracious. child, did she say
that" exclaimed Aunt Emmy. setting
her cup down with bang.
Il Eyes. she did, Aunty," said HeIer.
lenjoying the sensation she had made
ard determined to make the most OF
it, land I'm sure l agree with her,
The idea Of that old man appointing
trust company TO look after Mrs
Strong's money. 1t isn't as though
there wasn't plenty Of it The StrongS
are the richest people in town., Il
guess"
well, for mercy's sakes!" cried
Aunt Emmy, disgust in every syllable,
"if il don't beat all! You are as big,
fool as she is then!"
"Whai io you mean, Aunt Emmy?
asked Iielen with dignity. Il think
It nothing short OF disgraceful for
man to- show that he has no conf
dence in his wife by putting his money
in strangers hands to be doled out to
her as they see fit"
"You never thought that up. Helen"
ssid Aunt Emmy. that's Mrs. Strong.
She always talks as though she was
living in story book. poor, silly, little
thing"
Helen blushed and Aunt Emmy went
on-"Do you know what it means to
administer an estate. especially big
one like Mr.. Strong 81!
why, no." stammered Helen. "but
it must be simple"
Aunt Emmy shifted. Simple! Let
me tell you little about it. When
man dies the things he owns cease for
a time to be anybody's property and
become his estate. The property passes
:, h io No
rally, and as his estate it is controlled
and supervised by the Court which
will be in charge of the estate for
many months probably. First this
Court finds out whether or not there
is will and if the will is valid. Then
it must find out about the executor.
If the will is properly drawn and.valid,
it will be admitted to probate The
persons who Witnessed it must be
found and examined
1.-THE executor must satisfy the
Court as to fitness and willingness
to perform the many arduous duties
involved. Perhaps he will have to-
furnish bond, to assure the Court of
his financial responsibility. He must,
assemble all the so-called assets, have:
them valued and file an inventory and.
appraisal of them with the Court. All
the debts against the estate must be-
collected The settlement of all
claims against persons and corpora
tons is a job no one without thor
ough knowledge of business can un
dertake.
"In an estate like Mr.. Strong's there
is sure to be a certain amount of
financial negotiation that demands
banking knowledge. Then the ex-
ecutor must pay claims against the
estate in the order of precedence laid
down by law. Also you know state
inheritance and federal estate taxes
must be met promptly. Finally, after
the estate is settled as to claims it
has and claims against it, the execu-
tor must see that the various be-
quests are made"
ooh, Aunty don't tell me any more.
never thought that, there were so.
many complicated things to be DONE.
Poor Mrs. Strong never knew thing
about business"
"Mr. Strong knew that" remarked
Aunt Fanny dryly. land don't you sup
pose he had his children in mind, too?,
He wanted his estate handled so that
the children and Mrs. Strong would
be protected and assured Of a good,
comfortable living all their lives, with
something to go on to the grandchil-
dren. Even il Mrs Strong were a
business woman, no one could tell
how long she would live to administer
the estate. He knew that the trust
company would not die, nor lose its
faculties, nor be Influenced by personal
feeling so that it might be unjust to
some one, and that it represents some
of the best business and banking
judgment in town."
well, guess old man Strong knew
what he was doing!" said Helen
Anne B. Aymes.