Acting as executor
If you’ve been named as an executor of a will, you may be wondering what you need to do to fulfil your role. Stacks is here to help with the huge responsibility that is acting as an executor, or naming a suitable alternative administrator.
Being named as an executor of a will, is a much larger responsibility than many people realise. It is up to you to ensure that funeral arrangements for the deceased are made and paid for, that you apply to the Supreme Court for a grant of Probate (in order to gain permission to administer the estate), collect all assets, pay any outstanding debts and taxes of the deceased and ensure that beneficiaries of the will receive their benefits.
If you need help with fulfilling your role as an executor, the lawyers at Stacks Law Firm can help.
What is an executor?
An executor is the person who is responsible for carrying out the wishes of a person after they die. An executor must be at least 18 years of age or older to be appointed as such. Responsibilities which normally fall to the executor usually include:
- Applying for the death certificate
- Making funeral arrangements (the deceased’s wishes may or may not be laid out in the will but the executor does not necessarily have to fulfil these wishes)
- Locating and identifying all the assets of the deceased
- Collecting all assets of the deceased
- Paying the deceased’s debts and outstanding taxes
- Distributing assets to the beneficiaries as laid out in the will
If you have further questions, would like assistance in your role as executor or would like to discuss appointing one of Stacks’ expert lawyers to be an executor in your place, get in touch with us today
