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Law & Legal
  1. How to Qualify for a Medicaid Waiver
  2. Six Reasons Someone May Be Placed Under a Guardianship
  3. What Can Be Included in a Will?
  4. How Much Should You Put as a Down Payment on a House?
  5. 3 Assets That Can Fund a Trust
  6. Why You Should Have a Life Insurance Policy
  7. Is Real Estate a Good Financial Investment?
  8. S-Corp vs. C-Corp
  9. 5 Reasons Someone Might Disinherit a Child
  10. Benefits of a Testamentary Trust
  11. Steps on How to Sign Up for Life Insurance
  12. What is the Estate Administration Process?
  13. What Types of Government Benefits are Available for the Elderly?
  14. What is the Job of an Executor?
  15. What is a Simple Estate Plan?
  16. Why You Should Have a Will
  17. 3 Things You Need to Prepare Your Taxes
  18. Tips for Planning an Estate
  19. What is Electronic Notarization?
  20. Are There Requirements to Qualify for Medicaid Home Care?
  21. 3 Benefits of Tax Planning
  22. 3 Things to Know About Retirement Planning
  23. How Does Mental Illness Impact Your Estate Planning Process?
  24. What is a Lawsuit for Wrongful Death?
  25. What is The Tax Code?
  26. Guide to Become a Tax Advisor
  27. Does My Parents' Divorcing Impact My Inheritance?
  28. Guide to Understand When You Should and Shouldn't Buy a Home
  29. 3 Things a CPA Can Help With
  30. Tips to Maximize Your Tax Refund
  31. 3 Reasons You Should Have a Tax Accountant on Retainer
  32. Do Self-Employed Individuals Get Taxed Differently?
  33. What are Unclaimed Funds?
  34. 4 Things to Know About Surrogate's Court
  35. 3 Reasons Having Advance Directives is Important
  36. What are Estate Taxes?
  37. What is The Estate-Tax Exemption?
  38. Who Has to File Taxes?
  39. 3 Reasons You Should Have a Trust Protector
  40. Understanding Spousal Impoverishment
  41. Who Files Taxes For Businesses?
  42. Should I File My Taxes Using Turbo Tax?
  43. 3 Ways to Protect Against Financial Exploitation
  44. Who Qualifies for a Special Needs Trust?
  45. Guide on How to Write Off Business Expenses When Doing Your Taxes
  46. 3 Things Every Small Business Should Know
  47. Why Updating Your Will is Important
  48. What is the Probate Journey?
  49. What Happens if I Don't File My Taxes?
  50. Tax Accountant vs CPA
What is the Job of an Executor? {{ currentPage ? currentPage.title : "" }}

When someone passes, the assets and accounts that are left behind make up the decedent's estate. Processing the estate, meaning selling or transferring assets as well as paying debts and closing accounts is either handled through a probate court if no will is in place or through an executor if the decedent did have a will in place.

The executor is someone who is named by the decedent while they are still living. In most cases, an executor will be assigned during the drafting of a will, and this person will be responsible for taking action on behalf of the decedent once they have passed. An executor is usually a family member, but some people choose to assign the role to an attorney instead. The executor should also be notified of the intent to name them before issuing the assignment.

What Does an Executor Do?

When someone dies, the executor is responsible for acting on behalf of the decedent. They will handle tasks like obtaining copies of the death certificate, reviewing legal and financial documents, overseeing the transfer of accounts and assets and paying outstanding debts that still require attention.

Additionally, an estate executor will need to remove or transfer funds from financial accounts, close accounts that are no longer needed and ensure that the decedent's wishes are carried out per the decedent’s will. If tax obligations exist or there are tax liabilities on real estate or commercial accounts, the executor must also pay these using funds from the estate.

Does an Executor Need an Attorney?

In some cases, the tasks involved in settling an estate are fairly straightforward and can be handled by someone with no experience. In others, however, legal and financial matters can be complex and may require the assistance of an executor attorney. Someone who finds that they are dealing with matters like a contested will or creditors that are demanding payment may need to work with an executor attorney to protect their rights as well as the integrity of the decedent’s wishes as spelled out in a will document.

Author Resource:-

Mark writes often about estate planning. His articles may include topics like real estate closing attorney and business succession laws to help the people in needs. You can find his thoughts at real estate law blog.

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