Last updated: August 2026
What does an executor do? In one sentence: the executor is the person legally responsible for settling a deceased person’s estate — collecting the assets, paying the debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the heirs, all under the supervision of the probate court. It’s part project manager, part bookkeeper, and part referee, and it usually lasts six months to a year or more. This complete checklist walks through every duty in the order it typically happens.
The Executor’s Job in Plain English
An executor (called an administrator when there’s no will — here’s the difference) is a fiduciary: legally required to act in the estate’s best interest, not their own. That means careful records, no self-dealing, and personal liability if estate money is mishandled. It’s real responsibility — but tens of thousands of ordinary people do it every year, most for the first time.
The Complete Executor Checklist
First two weeks
- Obtain certified copies of the death certificate (order 10+ — banks, insurers, and agencies each want one).
- Locate the original will and any trust documents.
- Arrange care for dependents, pets, and the residence — secure the home, forward mail, keep insurance active.
- Make funeral arrangements consistent with the will’s wishes; keep every receipt.
First month — get appointed
- File the will with the probate court in the county where the person lived and petition for appointment.
- Receive your letters testamentary — the court document proving your authority to act.
- Open an estate bank account and get an EIN from the IRS. Never mix estate money with your own.
- Notify heirs and beneficiaries that probate has opened.
Months 1–3 — inventory and notify
- Identify and take control of every asset: accounts, real estate, vehicles, valuables, digital accounts.
- Get date-of-death values — appraisals for real estate and anything unusual.
- File the asset inventory with the court by its deadline.
- Notify known creditors and government agencies (Social Security, VA if applicable).
- Cancel subscriptions and cards; watch the mail for bills and statements.
Months 2–9 — pay debts, taxes, and expenses
- Evaluate creditor claims — pay the valid ones from estate funds, dispute the rest.
- Keep the house maintained and insured; decide with the heirs whether to sell it (our guide to selling an inherited house covers that process).
- File the deceased’s final income tax return, and an estate income tax return if the estate earns income.
- Keep a ledger of every dollar in and out — the court will want the accounting.
Final months — account and distribute
- Prepare the final accounting and file it with the court.
- Distribute the remaining assets to heirs per the will (or state intestacy law).
- Get receipts from beneficiaries and file for the estate’s formal closing.
What an Executor Is Paid
Executors are entitled to compensation — typically a percentage of the estate set by state law or a “reasonable fee” approved by the court. Family-member executors sometimes waive the fee, especially when they’re also heirs. Either way, legitimate out-of-pocket expenses (travel, filing fees, appraisals) are reimbursable from the estate.
A Common Squeeze: Estate Bills Before Estate Cash
Many executors hit a cash-flow trap: the estate owes property taxes, utilities, insurance, or repair costs now, but its money is tied up until probate progresses. Executors shouldn’t pay estate bills from their own pocket — that’s how reimbursement disputes start. One option built for this exact situation is an executor advance, which funds estate expenses against the estate’s value without tapping your personal accounts.
When to Bring in a Lawyer
Simple estates can often be handled without one; contested wills, insolvent estates, businesses, or feuding heirs are a different story. Our guide on whether you need a probate lawyer breaks down when it’s worth the fee.
Executor FAQs
How long does an executor have to settle an estate?
Most estates take six to twelve months; courts allow longer for real estate sales, litigation, or complex assets. The biggest fixed constraint is the creditor claim window, which runs several months in most states.
Can an executor also be an heir?
Yes — it’s extremely common. A spouse or adult child is often both. The fiduciary duty still applies: estate decisions must benefit all beneficiaries, not just the executor.
Is an executor personally liable for the estate’s debts?
Not for the debts themselves — the estate pays those. But an executor can become personally liable for mistakes: distributing money before valid debts are paid, missing tax filings, or self-dealing.
Can an executor decline the role?
Yes. You can renounce before appointment (the alternate named in the will, or a court appointee, takes over), or resign later with court approval.
What if the heirs need money before the estate closes?
Heirs don’t have to wait on the executor’s timeline for everything — an heir advance lets a beneficiary access part of their own share within about 24 hours, without affecting the other heirs or the executor’s process.
Executor facing estate expenses, or an heir tired of waiting? Apply in 2 minutes — flat fee, no credit check — or call 1-888-861-5744.
Related Reading
- Can an Executor Withhold Money From a Beneficiary?
- What to Do After a Death: A Step-by-Step Checklist
- Selling an Inherited House: A Complete Guide (2026)
Written by John Marsano
John Marsano leads Advanced My Inheritance, a national inheritance funding company that has advanced more than $10 million to heirs waiting on probate. He hosts the Probate Matters series and his commentary on inheritance and estate funding has been featured in Entrepreneur, Yahoo Finance, and GOBankingRates. He writes about probate, executor duties, and the options heirs have while estates are tied up in court. About Advanced My Inheritance