Executor

Naming an Executor means someone will be ready and able to handle your affairs and settle your estate after you pass away.

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Role of Executor: Commonly Asked Questions

The role of Executor involves carrying out the wishes a decedent (the person who passed away) leaves in his or her Will or Trust.

An Executor has several powers as appointed by a probate court. First and foremost, they can manage the affairs related to settling the estate. They can also access money and assets in the estate to be used to carry out the decedent's final instructions and wishes. They can contact beneficiaries, reach out to debtors, pay off taxes and notify agencies of the decedent’s passing.

An Executor can not fail to act. He or she cannot go against the terms left in the Will or Trust. They cannot (intentionally or unintentionally) breach their Fiduciary duty. Perhaps most importantly, they cannot make any threats or demands of beneficiaries.

An Executor can, and often does, get paid. Most states have laws about how much Executor compensation can be, and many states use the term “reasonable compensation” as a guideline.

Create a Legally Valid Estate Plan in 3 Steps

Create your estate plan

Creating a will or trust through our platform is easy, and for your first time, we’ll ship your documents to you for free. Once you have your plan, make sure to get them signed, witnessed, and notarized to help ensure your plan is legally valid.

Schedule your signing ceremony.

Finding a notary, gathering your witnesses, coordinating your appointment—it can be a hassle. To make matters worse, not all notaries will notarize estate planning documents. We make this step much easier through our notary partners. Click here to log in to your Trust & Will account and view your notary options.

Sign, witness, and notarize.

Properly sign your documents in the presence of your witnesses and notary. After your witnesses also sign, the notary will provide their signature and seal. Then, safely store your documents for safekeeping. No need to mail your documents back to us.

Your dedicated support team.

Questions about your plan? Don’t rely on googling or guesswork—your support team is on the case. Even if we’re not in-office, we always respond as soon as possible. We’re here to make the process easy.

We’re available:

• Monday-Friday 7am-5pm PT