Is it normal to pay a probate lawyer and still have to manage the entire estate yourself?
I'm trying to understand where a probate lawyer's responsibilities end and where the executor's begin. I always assumed that once you hired a probate lawyer, they'd take care of most of the process. But apparently there's still a ton of stuff left to deal with. Banks, closing accounts, property, outstanding bills, taxes, tracking down paperwork, keeping beneficiaries updated the list just keeps growing. I get that the lawyer handles the legal side, court filings and all that, but I didn't realize how much of the estate administration could still fall on the executor. Which makes me wonder whether paying separately for legal help and then spending months coordinating everything else is really the best approach like if you're working full time. For those who've been executors, did your probate lawyer handle much beyond the legal work?