What this stage is for
This stage is where you pay what beneficiaries are entitled to receive.
Do this only after debt and tax risk is controlled.
Step-by-step in Estate Suite
- Confirm readiness in Tasks and Ledger before creating final payments.
- Open Beneficiaries and verify each person, entitlement type, and payment details.
- Prepare interim or final payment amounts and record the calculation basis.
- Share clear payment breakdowns and keep copies in Documents.
- Make payments from the estate account and record each transaction in Ledger.
- Capture acknowledgements or receipts and attach them to the relevant records.
- Use Exports to generate current estate accounts before and after final payments.
Interim vs final payments
- Interim payment: part of an entitlement, paid before full closeout.
- Final payment: closes the entitlement when no further adjustment is expected.
If there are open risks, keep interim amounts conservative and hold reserves.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying final amounts while open risks still exist
- Using rough percentages without a full calculation trail
- Failing to keep beneficiary acknowledgements
- Clearing reserves before all checks are complete
FAQ
Can I make interim payments before final tax clearance?
Sometimes, yes. Only do this if a realistic reserve remains for unresolved liabilities.
What records should I keep for each payment?
Keep calculation notes, payment date and amount, destination details, and acknowledgement.
What if something changes after an interim payment?
Update the beneficiary record, recalculate entitlement, and document the reason before the next payment.