It’s never too early to create an official will. Even though it’s not something most of us want to think about, it’s a necessary part of life. When drawing up your will you’ll also need to nominate an executor, which raises the question: what exactly does being an executor for a will include?
Choosing a will executor
An executor is the person who carries out all of the instructions in your will when you’re no longer here. Think of your will as a map, and the executor is nominated to be the navigator. The person you choose to be your executor should obviously be someone you trust, but are there any other important factors to consider?
We recommend choosing someone who is adept at paperwork and managing legal issues, especially if you have a large or complicated estate. Your executor doesn’t necessarily need a legal background, but they need to be able to handle various legal obligations. Additionally, you can choose more than one executor if you feel it’s best to split the duties.
People commonly named as executors include one child or multiple children, a niece, a nephew, an adult grandchild, or a close family friend. If you don’t have anyone in your life who you want to nominate as your executor, please speak with your attorney, so they can discuss other options with you.
What is a will executor responsible for?
Depending on the contents of your will, your executor will be responsible for:
- Registering your death
- Organizing your funeral
- Paying any inheritance tax
- Having your estate valued by an appraiser
- Applying for probate
- Sorting out your finances and distributing your assets as you requested in your will
- Following any other additional instructions in your will
You can see why it’s important to choose a responsible person you trust to be your executor, as this is a responsibility that should be taken very seriously.
Planning for senior healthcare and more at SCC Legal
Regardless of your age, we recommend planning for your senior years as soon as possible. An experienced elder law attorney can help you create a will, plan for your health care, provide assistance with Medicaid planning, and much more. Having a plan in place makes things a little bit easier on your loved ones when you’re no longer here, and it avoids what can become long, frustrating legal battles among family.
For more information about how our team at SCC Legal can help you in all matters of elder law, including senior healthcare and Medicaid planning, please contact us today. Choosing an executor for your will is an important task and we are glad to offer our professional advice, every step of the way.