Frequently asked questions
What are contacts in Estateably?
Contacts represent the individuals or organizations involved in an estate or trust file, such as beneficiaries, executors, trustees, legal representatives, and other related parties. Adding contacts makes their information available throughout the file for forms, letters, distributions, and reporting.
How do I add a beneficiary or contact to a file?
Open the file.
Go to the Contacts section.
Click Add New in the top-right corner.
Enter the required information: legacy type, name, contact details, and relationship to the deceased.
Enter any additional applicable information.
Click Add to save.
The contact appears in the Contacts list for the file.
What information can I include in a beneficiary profile?
Required fields include legacy type, name, contact information, mailing address, and relationship to the deceased. For residual beneficiaries, you can also enter an allocation percentage or fraction. Optional fields may include the name as listed in the will (if different), SIN or SSN, date of birth, date of death, cash bequest, money owed to the deceased, and legal representative information. Available optional fields vary by jurisdiction.
What does "Legacy Type" mean?
The legacy type identifies what the beneficiary is entitled to receive.
Residual Beneficiary — receives a share of the residue of the estate after debts, expenses, and specific gifts are paid.
Legacy Beneficiary — receives a specific gift or cash bequest.
Can I edit a beneficiary's information after it has been added?
Yes.
Go to the Contacts section of the file.
Click the three-dot menu (…) next to the beneficiary.
Select Edit.
Update the information as needed.
Click Save.
Can a beneficiary also be added as an executor?
Yes. Click the three-dot menu next to the beneficiary's name and select Make Executor. Their information is copied into the Executor section of the file.
Why is it important to add contacts before recording distributions?
Contacts must exist in the Contacts section before they can be selected elsewhere in the file. Beneficiaries must be added before you can record distributions, generate reports, or populate forms and letters. Adding contacts early keeps the file fully prepared for later stages.
Can I generate reports from the Contacts section?
Yes. Estateably lets you generate a List of Beneficiaries report that includes the details of all beneficiaries in the file. Use it for client sharing, internal review, or physical record-keeping.
How do I generate the List of Beneficiaries report?
Go to the Contacts section of the file.
Click Reports in the top-right corner.
Select List of Beneficiaries.
In the pre-generation screen, choose the file format (Word or PDF) and whether to include residual beneficiaries, legacy beneficiaries, or both.
Click Generate.
The document downloads to your browser's Downloads folder.
What are Saved Contacts?
Saved Contacts store commonly used professionals or service providers — such as accountants, bank representatives, and certified valuators — so they can be reused across files.
How do I access Saved Contacts?
Click the Settings (gear icon) in the top-right corner.
Go to Management in the left-hand menu.
Select Saved Contacts.
How do I add a saved contact?
Go to Settings › Management › Saved Contacts.
Click Add New.
Select the contact type.
Enter the contact's details.
Click Save.
Can I filter or manage saved contacts?
Yes. Within the Saved Contacts section, you can filter by type, edit existing contact details, and review stored information.
Conclusion
Contacts are the foundation for distributions, reporting, and document generation in Estateably. Add them early to avoid delays later in the administration process. Contact [email protected] if you need additional help.
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