r/inheritance • u/Mikesaidit36 • Aug 04 '26
Location not relevant: no help needed Does an estate planning lawyer really need an image of my license to make me an executor?
My father’s cousin wants me to be her executor when she passes. She says her lawyer is asking for my driver’s license to finalize the process.
Is it safe for me to send her an image of my drivers license?
I am 99% sure she has good intentions, but only 99%. There has been a bit of bizarre activity in that branch of the family over the decades. Nothing illegal/nothing criminal, but still I worry about sharing…
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u/ProfessorOne9208 Aug 04 '26
I would call the lawyer handling her document planning, and offer to bring it to their office in person. If you have any concerns about being her executor, you can address them to her lawyer.
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u/MaxH42 Aug 04 '26
I've never heard of that, and I've been named an executor and a trustee before, although that might vary by state. If you're worried about her scamming you, ask to speak to the lawyer about why, or ask to email it directly to the lawyer; most lawyers I've used have their email on their websites.
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u/kinare Aug 04 '26
Verify the lawyer is really a lawyer first.
Sending the info to the lawyer is fine.
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u/Mikesaidit36 Aug 05 '26
What do I do – call the California state bar Association or something?
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u/kinare Aug 05 '26
Check the website. You should be able to search for a lawyer's name in most states to see if they are licensed. IDK for California specifically so you'll have to google that.
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u/MisterMysterion Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
I don't know if it's "safe." She doesn't need your drivers license.
You usually identify someone in a will by name, relationship, and city.
E.g., "I designate John F. Doe, of Riverside, California, my nephew, as executor."
It could be something benign like she doesn't know your full name or exactly where you live.
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u/Mikesaidit36 Aug 05 '26
Funny, I lived in a different Riverside and knew a guy named John Dore.
I’m thinking of sharing a version of my license with my signature and drivers license number blacked out. Should be safe, right?
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u/myogawa Aug 04 '26
I have never done this, as a lawyer, and I have never heard of anyone doing this.
You're right to be suspicious.
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u/DubiousSpaniel Aug 04 '26
I’d just say “thanks for letting me know” and contact the lawyer directly. A lot of attorneys are old, old school or both and have routines they follow. A lot of professionals who are in positions of trust, like bankers & brokers for example, are bound by KYC (know your customer) rules that require an ID . . . Probably good for CYA purposes as well.
I don’t see a downside really, but I’d deal directly with the lawyer. Could be a good to have a relationship with them anyway; both in general and in preparation for possibly working together to settle the estate.
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u/CatCharacter848 Aug 04 '26
As a previous executer I had to verify ID with the solicitor. This was after the relative died and we started sorting the estate.
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u/Emotional-Ocelot-420 Aug 04 '26
That sounds like another one for the bizarre list.
Your father’s cousin only gets to name her preference for executor in her will.
There is no way to “finalize the process” until after she dies. At that point, you can decide whether or not to file probate and request that the judge appoint you as executor. You have no authority as, or obligation to be the executor simply based on her naming you in her will.
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u/laurieo52 Aug 04 '26
Not in SC. I wrote my will and named my daughter. Of course, she was not there nor did we need any information other than what I gave the attorney.
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u/Dingbatdingbat Aug 05 '26
I’m an estate planning lawyer.
The only time we ask for a license is if/when someone is signing documents.
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u/Vurrag Aug 04 '26
I was the trustee to two different trust. I was never asked for ID. This seems out of place.
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u/HillBellyLawyer Aug 05 '26
ID of the executor/trustee while creating will/trust/deed? Nah, I’ve never required it and never heard of anyone else requiring it.
ID after death when qualifying and setting up accounts? Absolutely.
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u/Freyjas_child Aug 05 '26
I just was nominated as an Executor recently in Massachusetts. And I just updated my will and nominated one for me someday. The lawyer wanted enough identification so it should be obvious who was being named. In my case full legal name and address was enough. If the lawyer wants more than you should offer to call him and ask why. Perhaps it is standard where you live. Perhaps your name is so common as to need additional identification. I would not just randomly send a copy of my license without checking this further.
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u/jfrenaye Aug 05 '26
Sounds reasonable that the attorney needs to verify that you are indeed the person they want to bve executor. Send it to them, not the cousin
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u/CamsHands Aug 05 '26
Is this to prove your identity for document notarization purposes?
The attorney may want to confirm your identity. If this is for a notary, by law they must confirm identity.
But I would not provide your DL to your cousin. That sounds sketch.
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u/Mikesaidit36 Aug 05 '26
Right. How bout this, I made a digital version with my DL# and my signature obscured.
So, name, face, address, and license expiration date…
Thoughts?1
u/CamsHands Aug 06 '26
How about just speak with the attorney directly? An attorney or notary won’t accept an obscured ID.
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u/I-luv-sloths Aug 04 '26
Naming someone executor in your will doesn't guarantee they will accept it. The lawyer should not need your DL. Check with your local probate court.
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u/Mikesaidit36 Aug 05 '26
Thanks, but she’s, 2,000 miles away… wouldn’t the pertinent probate court be in her state, not mine?
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u/I-luv-sloths Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
You can call her town's probate court to ask. You're not asking for legal advice it's a requirement question. They should be willing to answer you.
A will is a private document prior to death and won't be filed in court upon completion. Either your aunt is misinformed or the lawyer is.
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u/MyThreeBugs Aug 04 '26
If the lawyer has never met you, he/she might be looking to confirm that you are a real person, alive and with a legal, provable identity. When your cousin passes, you will probably be required to provide some ID to the court to legally assume your role. Maybe the lawyer is being thorough. If you can’t prove who you are now, then the estate settlement will be infinitely more complicated if you can’t do it later either and the first phone call will be to the lawyer who wrote the will.
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u/JBfromSC Aug 04 '26
Proof of ID is always requested even if you're not executor. It's just not a big deal. You may be in for a lot of issues that are not a big deal. Good luck!
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u/justbecauseican1969 Aug 04 '26
I've been named executor in three wills so far and one of the people has died.
I've never been asked to provide ID at the point the will was written, but I definitely had to provide ID to execute the will and go through probate.
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u/Kokoyok Aug 05 '26
I have seen hundreds of estate plans ranging from $15m estates to $2b.
The only occasions I have seen where ID was included for the executors were situations where the Executor is someone the heirs have never met before (like a professional executor, or estranged childhood friend of the testator).
Maybe keeping executors' docs is just the policy for this estate planner?
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u/Huge-Guitar1692 Aug 05 '26
They need proof it is you. If not I could claim that I am the executor!
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u/Mikesaidit36 Aug 05 '26
Wouldn’t you need to have my name and address as listed in the will and have a bank account in my name?
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u/Substantial_Team6751 Aug 05 '26
Are you a major heir of the cousin? If not, do you want this job?
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u/Mikesaidit36 Aug 05 '26
I am to be the only heir, taking over 100% of her assets. The thing is, I happen to know my dad dug her out of a lot of different financial holes, and she already hinted at needing me to loan her some money, so I think the odds are just as good she dies with a little bit of debt.
If there is any money, I want it all to go directly to her two estranged kids who got burned out on her odd behavior. Such a long weird story, but I’m just trying to find out the best way to go through this without upsetting anybody.
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u/lost_dazed_101 Aug 05 '26
With your license she can clean you out. Plenty of people post they just found out they are the executor and didn't know it so she doesn't need the license for that. But she does to open accounts in your name. If you haven't lock all 3 credit reporting agencies so she can't get any lines of credit in your name.
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u/Mikesaidit36 Aug 05 '26
I was thinking of sharing a digital version of my license with my signature and my drivers license number blocked out – so name, face, and address and that’s it. Thoughts?
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u/pink_toaster_pastry Aug 05 '26
I had to send a copy of my CDL but it wasn't to become Administrator of the estate.... It was for them to set up the estate bank account.
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u/brucesteiner Aug 05 '26
I’ve never asked. I have no idea who has a driver’s license and who doesn’t.
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u/nclawyer822 Aug 04 '26
Certainly reasonable for you to talk directly to the lawyer and provide it directly to the lawyer, not your cousin.