Pt. I. Getting ready. The executor's legal companion ; Overview ; If you're asked to be an executor or trustee -- Pt. II. First steps. The first week ; The first month ; Claiming life insurance, Social Security, and other benefits -- Pt. III. Taking care of the estate. Making sense of the will ; If there's no will ; Taking inventory ; Managing assets and paying bills ; Caring for children and their property ; Taxes -- Pt. IV. Transferring property. Property that doesn't go through probate ; Transferring joint tenancy and other survivorship property ; Transferring community property ; Claiming money in retirement plans ; Claiming payable-on-death assets ; Special procedures for small estates ; The regular probate process -- Pt. V. Handling trusts. Wrapping up a simple living trust ; Managing a child's trust -- Part VI. Getting more help. Finding more information ; Lawyers and other experts -- Glossary -- Appendix : State information