When someone dies, one of the safest early principles is:
PRESERVE FIRST. DISTRIBUTE LATER.
You may not yet know:
→ Which Will controls
→ What belongs to the probate estate
→ Whether debts exist
→ Whether taxes are due
→ Whether the executor has been formally appointed
→ Whether someone will object
→ Whether an item was actually owned by the person who died
So those first days are usually much more about:
Secure it.
Document it.
Understand it.
And much less about:
“Who gets what?”
Estate administration rewards patience.