Key Takeaways |
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• Wills can be drafted and estate files managed within the same system. |
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• Accounting records are kept for each deceased estate individually, with its own cashbook. |
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• Liquidation and distribution accounts are generated through built-in automation rather than manual spreadsheet work. |
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• Estate documents, from death notices to wills, can be uploaded and stored against the file. |
Acting as executor means carrying a deceased estate from the first draft of the will through to a finalised liquidation and distribution account, often while juggling several estates at different stages at once. Each one needs its own accurate accounting, its own set of documents, and its own timeline, and keeping all of that straight across spreadsheets, folders and separate systems is where executors lose the most time.
Lexpro’s Deceased Estates & Wills software is built around that full lifecycle, from will creation through to a finalised estate, so an executor isn’t rebuilding the same information in three different places.
From Draft Wills to a Fully Managed Estate File
The process starts before there’s an estate to administer. Lexpro allows wills to be drafted within the system, and once an estate does need to be administered, whether testate or intestate, the file carries on from there. Executors get a step-by-step system to work through, with a diary and search functions to keep track of where each estate stands.
Keeping Estate Accounts Accurate From Day One
Every deceased estate needs its own accounting records, and Lexpro handles this with a dedicated cashbook for each estate individually rather than one shared record across your entire caseload. Estate bank account statements can be imported directly, and transactions can be requested through to accounting functions for the estate. Fee billing and reporting for the estate is handled from the same file, so the executor’s own fees, master’s fees and duty calculations sit alongside the rest of the estate’s financial record.
Liquidation and Distribution Accounts Without Starting From Scratch
Compiling a liquidation and distribution account by hand, working from separate ledgers and correspondence, is one of the slower parts of estate administration. Lexpro automates the distribution process itself, drawing on the estate’s own accounting records to reduce the manual reworking that usually comes with this step. The resulting documents can be produced in both Excel and Word formats, whichever suits the reporting or advertising requirement at hand.
Estate Documents, Correspondence and Records in One Place
Beyond the accounting, an estate file accumulates its own paper trail, death notices, the will itself, and various supporting documents. These can be uploaded and stored directly against the estate in Lexpro, alongside file notes and single or bulk SMS communication where that’s useful for keeping beneficiaries and other parties updated. Should an auditor need to review the estate’s financial position, they can access the accounting records and estate bank account balances directly for their reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can executors draft wills within the same system used for estate administration?
Yes. Lexpro allows wills to be drafted directly in the system, and that same file can carry through into full estate administration once it’s needed.
Does Lexpro generate liquidation and distribution accounts automatically?
Lexpro automates the distribution process using the estate’s existing accounting records, and the resulting liquidation and distribution accounts can be produced in Excel or Word format.
Can auditors access a deceased estate’s accounting records?
Yes. Auditors can access the estate’s accounting records and estate bank account balances directly within Lexpro for their own reporting purposes.
Bringing It Together
Administering a deceased estate involves a long chain of steps, from the original will through to a finalised liquidation and distribution account, and every one of those steps depends on accurate records. By keeping will drafting, estate accounting, document storage and distribution automation inside a single system, Lexpro helps executors move each estate through to finalisation with fewer gaps between the file and the figures.
If you’d like to see how it works for your practice, book a demo or get in touch with the Lexpro team.
Lexpro Systems | 118 Sovereign Dr, Route 21 Business Park, Centurion, 0157 | 012 345 4510 | lexpro.co.za
