What does an executor actually do?
The plain-English job description — and the one thing that makes you official.
An executor (some states say “personal representative”) is the person responsible for winding down someone's affairs after they die. If there's a will, it usually names one. If there isn't, the court appoints someone — often the closest family member who steps up.
The job, in order
Gather the important papers and secure the home. Get the court to officially put you in charge. Tell the banks, agencies, and anyone owed money. Make a list of what the person owned and owed. Pay the valid debts and taxes in the right order. Then pass what's left to the people who inherit — and close the estate with the court.
The moment you become official
Until the court issues your “Letters” — a one-page document proving you're in charge — banks won't really talk to you. Getting that document is the single most important early step; almost everything else waits on it.
Two things people worry about that they shouldn't: you don't pay the person's debts out of your own pocket (debts come from the estate, and only the valid ones), and you're generally entitled to be paid for the work from the estate.
It's a lot of small tasks, not one giant one. A clear, ordered list is the whole trick — which is what the workspace gives you.
Answer five quick questions and we'll tell you whether you need probate, what money you can recover, and the very first thing to do.
Start free →Common questions
Usually yes. Executors are generally entitled to a fee from the estate, though family members often waive it.
No. You pay valid debts from the estate's assets, not your own money, and only after confirming each debt is legitimate.