What are the executor’s responsibilities in probate?

An executor is the person nominated to be in charge of a probate estate and is appointed by the court to complete the tasks involved in probate. The executor’s responsibilities can be a lot of information to take in and a lot of work. So if you are nominated to be executor you may be wondering what do I have to do?

What are the executor’s responsibilities in probate?

• At the beginning of probate, the executor is responsible for gathering all the assets of the estate.
• Then the executor creates an Inventory and Appraisal of all assets. An Inventory and Appraisal is a list of every asset owned by the estate and assigns value to each asset.
• After that, the executor must make sure that any legitimate creditors of the probate estate are paid. This process is often complicated. Once the executor determines who is supposed to paid, and pays those creditors, then the executor can close the estate.
• In closing the estate, the executor is required to follow the terms of the will, or if there is not a will, the executor follows California’s intestate laws, which are laws that apply when there is no will.
• When it is time to close the estate, the executor ensure that every beneficiary gets what is rightfully theirs from the estate.

If you are nominated to be the executor of an estate, and think you might need help, feel free to contact us. We offer a free 30-minute phone consultation with an attorney that can assist you in the California probate process.