What are the duties of an estate executor?
If your loved one’s estate is being settled by a professional executor or administrator, you will not be burdened by the considerable responsibilities these positions require, which are described in this section. But you should keep in close touch with the executor so you know what is happening. Depending on the size and complexity of an estate, assistance from some or all of the following professionals may be needed: a financial planner, certified public accountant, trust officer, or life insurance agent. Ask trusted family members, friends, and advisors for the names of professionals who can help you settle the estate. The estate settlement process begins with the court issuing letters that allow the executor or administrator to continue the legal process of settling the estate and meet his or her responsibility to protect its value. The court may take several weeks to issue the letters, and they are valid only for a limited time. Executors may take some or all of the following steps