• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • About Our Firm
    • Career Opportunities
    • Meet Our Team
    • News and Events
    • Seniors Rock Radio
  • Estate Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Planning
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Family Farm Succession Planning
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • IRA Planning
      • Planning With An IRA
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
    • Young Families
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Elder Law Reports
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Resources
    • Definitions
    • FREE Estate Planning Worksheet
    • FREE Webinars
    • Estate Administration Legal Guide
    • Estate Planning Articles
      • Questions for Your Estate Planning Attorney Before Creating Your First Estate Plan
      • How to Create Your First Estate Plan in 2022
      • How to Choose a Guardian for Your Child
      • Address These Three Questions in Your First Estate Plan
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Adult Guardianship
      • Alzheimer’s Care
      • Custodial Accounts for Minors
      • Estate Planning
      • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Elder Law
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Legacy Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicare and Social Security
      • Probate
      • Probate Avoidance
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Veterans’ Benefits
      • Wills
    • Newsletters
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Medicaid Planning
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Medicaid Frequently Asked Questions
    • Medicaid Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Estate Planning Services in Rochester, New York and the Finger Lakes Area

Connect With Us Today

(585) 374-5210
Law Pay Button
Attend a Free Webinar
Home » Wills » What Is an Executor?

What Is an Executor?

February 10, 2022Wills

What Is an Executor?

If you use a last will to express your final wishes regarding asset transfers, you name an executor or executrix. This is the person who will handle the estate administration tasks after you pass away. An executor is a male who holds this position, and an executrix is a female estate administrator.

In some states, the estate administrator is called a personal representative.

When you are choosing an executor, you should recognize the fact that it is not a purely ceremonial role. The executor is going to conduct the estate’s business, so you should make sure that you choose someone who is capable of carrying out the estate administration tasks.

What are these tasks? The executor must identify and secure the property that is comprising the estate, and the will must be admitted to probate.

Probate is a legal process. The executor will take care of the estate administration tasks, but the overall administration is supervised by the Surrogate’s Court. The court will examine the will to make sure that it is valid.

The executor must pay final debts during the probate process, and this will include final taxes. Property must be inventoried and prepared for distribution to the heirs. Appraisals and liquidation of property may be necessary, and the executor must address all of these details.

People who have an interest in the estate may have questions about how things are going during the probate process. The executor would be the person communicating with all interested parties, so your executor should be someone who is good with people.

Ultimately, the executor will follow the instructions that you leave behind in the will and distribute assets to the heirs in accordance with your wishes.

Choosing an Executor

You probably want to avoid sentimentality when you are choosing an executor. The person that you choose should be fully capable of handling the business of the estate.

Clearly, you want to choose someone with a good bit of business acumen, and geography is a factor as well. You don’t want to choose an executor who lives across the country.

Time is another factor that you should take into consideration. Administering the estate can be a time-consuming endeavor, so you should empower an executor who has the ability to devote a lot of time to the estate administration tasks.

When you think about choosing an executor, family members and close friends may come to mind. You can certainly choose someone that you know, but there are also professionals who can be engaged if you want to go that route.

 

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Clients notice Michael Robinson’s unique approach to his estate planning practice the minute they walk through his office doors.
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • How Estate Planning for a Family May Trap the Unwary Practitioner - August 31, 2022
  • State Income Taxation of Social Security Benefits - August 24, 2022
  • Understanding Tax Apportionment Clauses - August 17, 2022

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Bath estate planning attorneys
5 Reasons to Appoint the Right Executor
contest the Will
Can I Contest My Parent’s Will?
contested will
Why a Contested Will Can Cost Your Heirs
Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.
Florida Woman’s DIY Will Proves Problematic
Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.
What Does Your Last Will and Testament Cover?
Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.
Testamentary Bequest in Rochester: 4 Types

Primary Sidebar

Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Blog Subscription

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

TESTIMONIALS

News & Events

Seniors Rock Radio Show Recording 5-1-21

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U7UkQbEGy-xY7XFAXvX9Qz7pKSVDVV3D/view?usp=drive_web   Author Recent Posts Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney Clients notice Michael Robinson’s unique approach to his estate planning practice the minute they walk through his office doors. Latest posts by Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney (see all) How Estate Planning for a Family May Trap the Unwary Practitioner... Read more →

Pittsford Office

1163 Pittsford-Victor Road, Suite 120 (Powder Mill Office Park)
Pittsford, NY 14534-3817
Phone: (585) 374-5210
Fax: (585) 485-0394

See Larger Map Get Directions

Map

mrobinson_sidbr_map

Footer

  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
robinson law logo

The Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Attorney Advertisement


© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.