What Are Some of the Legal Responsibilities of an Executor in Massachusetts?
The Executor (or in the case of a female, Executrix) is responsible for stepping into the Decedent’s shoes and taking control of the Decedent’s assets. The Executor then becomes responsible for the management of the estate and distribution of any estate assets. The Executor accounts for the estate assets and preserve the estate assets until liquidation or distribution. The Executor pays all debts of the decedent that the estate is responsible for and pays the administration costs associated with the estate. Finally, the Executor will distribute the assets of the estate pursuant to the provisions of the Decedent’s Last Will & Testament. If there is no Last Will & Testament, the foregoing responsibilities are handled by the Administrator (or in the case of a female, Administratrix) with the only difference being the estate assets will be distributed by Statute in the absence of a will. Some other common responsibilities of an Executor include applying for death benefits that may be due t
