Many devout Christians may find probate matters to be a bit uncomfortable. They may look at the desire for an inheritance as a form of greed. They may also grieve the way that families allow greed to damage their relationships.
Some people intentionally avoid serving as the personal representative of an estate because they worry that doing so might force them to compromise their personal values. They may pray and trust in God to care for the people grieving. Offering prayers and condolences to the surviving family is admirable. It also isn’t the only way to support them. Christians can bring a spirit of service to the probate process that can be beneficial for everyone involved.
Serving as the personal representative of an estate provides an individual with an opportunity to support those closest to the individual who have recently died and to bring light to others during an incredibly difficult time.
What the probate process involves
The personal representative of an estate has numerous responsibilities. They file documents with the Maryland courts, communicate with creditors, fulfill financial obligations and distribute estate resources.
The act of accepting the role of personal representative can be an act of service on its own. Doing so can take the pressure off of the surviving spouse or children of the person who died. The personal representative can then use their intelligence and skills to help ensure the protection of those left behind after the decedent’s passing.
Both the Old Testament and New Testament include many passages instructing people to care for and support widows and orphans. A personal representative of an estate can achieve that goal by properly managing estate resources and optimizing their value.
For example, securing real estate and other valuable assets can protect them from vandals and thieves. Learning about the fair market value of assets can help ensure that the personal representative sells them for an appropriate amount. Doing so can increase the financial resources that ultimately pass to the surviving spouse and children or other beneficiaries of the deceased.
A Christian personal representative can also set aside their desire for personal enrichment. They may have less of an inclination than the average person to embezzle or otherwise engage in misconduct during the probate process. In fact, they have the option of declining the compensation usually provided for their services to either pass more on to the surviving family members of the deceased or to leave resources for the church that the decedent attended.
Understanding what happens during probate proceedings can help people evaluate whether serving as a personal representative might be a viable option for them. Many Christians can have a positive impact on numerous other people if they accept the responsibility of handling estate administration.