An executor is the person named in a will to collect assets, pay debts and taxes, and pass what remains to beneficiaries. The first steps after a death are to locate the will, file it with the probate court to confirm appointment, secure property, and gather death certificates and financial records. Early action protects value and prevents delay. Banks, insurers, and agencies will not release funds without proof, and debts must be settled before any family member receives a share.
Table of Contents
- Prove the will and confirm your authority
- Secure assets and key paperwork
- Notify agencies, employers, and financial firms
- Pay valid debts, taxes, and funeral costs first
- Distribute what remains and keep full accounts
Prove the will and confirm your authority
The U.S. Army JAG outline of executor duties states the first legal job is to locate the will and file it with the probate court to prove the will and confirm the appointment outline of executor duties. Filing gives you legal standing to act for the estate.
Keep the original safe and ask the court how many certified copies you will need. In England and Wales, UK Government guidance says a named executor applies for a grant of probate through GOV.UK. The grant provides authority to administer the estate. Processing often completes within about 12 weeks.
- Find all wills and codicils, then use the most recent valid original.
- File promptly in the correct court and obtain proof of appointment.
- Do not sell, give away, or distribute property before authority is confirmed.
Secure assets and key paperwork
Government of Saskatchewan guidance says the executor must identify, secure, inventory, value, and insure all estate assets. That includes homes, bank accounts, vehicles, business interests, and personal effects. Change locks if needed, stop mail misuse, and protect valuables from loss or damage. NSW Government guidance says certified copies of the death certificate are required because banks, insurers, agencies, and courts need proof to release assets or close accounts updated guidance on what executors do.
Order several copies at the start. You will also need the will, insurance policies, deeds, account statements, and recent tax records. Make a dated inventory with values and photos. Note debts, automatic payments, and jointly owned items that may pass outside the will.
Notify agencies, employers, and financial firms
The U.S. Social Security Administration says survivors must notify Social Security immediately when a person dies, and notes that funeral homes often report the death using the Social Security number Survivors Benefits information. Call promptly to stop payments and ask about survivor support. Survivors benefits cannot be applied for online.
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Also notify the employer, pension provider, banks, insurers, landlord or mortgage servicer, and utilities. Ask each what form, death certificate, and appointment proof it requires. Keep a log of dates, names, and reference numbers. Quick notice limits overpayments, fees, and fraud. It also starts the paper trail you need to collect balances and close accounts.
Pay valid debts, taxes, and funeral costs first
American Bar Association estate-planning guidance says the executor must notify known creditors, handle required notices, review claims, and pay valid debts, taxes, and funeral costs before distribution. Reject claims that lack proof and seek legal advice on disputed or time-barred debts. Pay in priority order required by law. IRS guidance says the personal representative must file the decedent's final Form 1040 or 1040-SR for the year of death, plus any missing prior-year returns.
Report income received up to the date of death. Check whether estate or other tax filings are also due. Funeral and administration expenses, secured loans, medical bills, credit balances, and taxes often arrive on different schedules. Set aside reserves before paying beneficiaries.
Distribute what remains and keep full accounts
After assets are collected and debts and taxes are paid, distribute the residue exactly as the will directs. The U.S. Army JAG outline and Saskatchewan duties describe the executor as a fiduciary who must keep full accounts. Record every receipt, payment, sale, and distribution with dates and receipts.
State thresholds, small-estate procedures, and creditor-claim deadlines vary. Some modest estates can use a simplified process without formal probate. Check the local limit before filing a full case. Get signed receipts from beneficiaries and retain estate records for the period required by local law.
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