Our parents just passed. What do we do about their estate?

After losing both parents, two siblings were left wondering about taxes owing, when money could be distributed, and whether to move everything to cash while they sorted it out. This piece walks through what actually happens when an estate is settled: a final tax return that can pull registered accounts into income, capital gains on non-registered investments, and the difference between assets with named beneficiaries that pass quickly and those that must wait for probate. The advice on going to cash is measured. Accounts tied up in probate often cannot be touched until it clears, and for those that can be distributed, the better move is usually completing the paperwork promptly rather than trying to time markets. It is a steadying read for executors and adult children facing the practical side of grief, with a nudge to get an accountant involved early.