Content Overview 
- Summary
- Why Do I Need To Appoint A Personal Representative?
- What Does A Personal Representative Do?
- Does A Personal Representative Get Paid?
- Whom Can I Legally Choose As A Personal Representative?
- Is The Person I Choose Required to Serve As Personal Representative?
- How To Choose A Personal Representative
- What If I Want To Change My Choice Of Personal Representative?
- Qualities To Look For In A Personal Representative
- Does My Personal Representative Have To Be An Attorney?
- Discussions To Have With Your Personal Representative
Personal Representative/Executor
Does My Personal Representative Have To Be An Attorney?
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No. It could be helpful if your Personal Representative knows the law, but it's not necessary.
A Personal Representative can hire lawyers, accountants or other experts and pay them from the assets of your estate. These costs -- in addition to the Personal Representative's fees -- are a deductible expense for your estate.
If you do choose an attorney to act as your Personal Representative, check to see if she or he will charge one or two fees to serve as both Personal Representative and attorney. Although your Personal Representative and attorney serve different functions, in some states only one charge is allowed if an attorney fills both functions. Even if it is allowed, for the sake of your heirs, it is preferable to only have one fee.