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Abatement, Ademption, Assets, Beneficiaries, Common Estates, decedent, Distributing Property, Embedded Mistakes, estate, Estate Administration, Estate Attorney, Estate Documents, Estate Plan, Estate Planning, Executor, Financial Arrangements, Future Executor, Lawyer, Legal Arrangements, Opt-Out, Real Estate Agent, Tax Professional, Taxes, testator, Unintended Consequences, Will
Essentially, a future executor should prepare for an estate administration while the testator is still alive. By reviewing the estate plan with the testator, the future executor will understand the wishes of the testator. Additionally, depending on the level of knowledge the future executor possesses on estate planning, correcting embedded mistakes in the estate plan is possible. Regardless, at the very minimum, knowing the basic details of the estate plan and the wishes of the testator may be enough. If the future executor has a higher understanding of estate planning, then perhaps an extensive review is possible. Either way, preparing for an estate administration with the testator is an important step towards a smooth estate administration.
In common estates, suspect executor behavior will create suspicious beneficiaries. Although the beneficiary may view the executor behavior as suspect, the behavior may not be suspect at all. As described in the article 
While planning your estate, common sense is necessary to select a good strategy. In common estates, there are many options in selecting a strategy designed to execute your estate plan. Since forming a strategy involves many decisions, you need to use common sense to make good decisions. Otherwise, problems may result for your beneficiaries and your executor. In essence, common sense leading to good decision making is the formula for a sound estate plan.