What is an executor and what are your duties as executor of a deceased estate?

An executor is the legal personal representative of the person who has died. This person is legally able to act on behalf of the person who has died and to carry out that person’s wishes as stated in their will. The job of an executor involves important duties and obligations.

The most important duties are:

• To arrange for the burial or cremation of the body
• To take control of all assets and to collect all debts due to the estate
• To use the money or assets in the estate to pay all the deceased person’s debts
• To make sure the assets of the estate aren’t wasted

To distribute the estate’s assets to the people the will says should have them