An Overview of an Executor

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The executor of a will bears the responsibility for making sure that the provisions of the will are followed. Executors and executrices fulfill the same role. The only difference is that executrices is the somewhat outdated which that accounts for when the responsibility of serving as an executor of a will is handled by a woman. If there is not a will, then the role of an executor is handled by a court appointed administrator.

Executor of Estate

The executor of estate is held accountable for undertaking instructions and desires laid out in a will. The executor of estate can be known by the generic term personal representative, though personal representative also extends to the duties fulfilled by an administrator. The role of an executor of estate can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction because each state has different estate and probate laws. However, the widespread adoption of the Uniform Probate Code throughout much of the United States of America means that most of the guidelines are uniform across the country, despite local peculiarities.

Executor Responsibilities

In addition to sometimes having to offer the will for probate, executor responsibilities include disbursing the property held by the estate to the beneficiaries as instructed by the will, acquiring information about potential heirs, repaying the debts of the estate, and approving or disapproving claims made by creditors. Executors also have to pay and calculate estate taxes, file the necessary forms, and otherwise assist the attorneys that have been hired by the estate. Other executor duties include making any charitable donations identified as bequests in the will.