An executor is the person named in a will to carry out the instructions contained in the will. The executor is responsible for settling the person's affairs after death. The person's estate (everything he or she owned) passes temporarily to the executor. In general, the executor gathers up the estate assets, pays the funeral costs, debts and taxes, and then distributes what remains of the estate to the beneficiaries in the will.

If you are the executor of a will, good starting points include:

• Your Duties as Executor, from the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch, provides an overview of what is involved in being an executor and the steps in the process.
• Being an Executor, from People's Law School, outlines what is involved in being an executor and the steps you take as an executor. It provides answers to such questions as: Do I have to act as executor? Does an executor get paid? What do I do first?

Probate is a legal procedure that confirms the will can be acted on and that you have the authority to act as executor. Be aware that you don't always have to apply for probate. It depends on the type of assets in the estate. The procedure includes submitting special forms and the original will to the Probate Registry of the Supreme Court.

Good starting points on probating a will include:

• Your Duties as Executor, from the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch, explains some of the situations that require probate.
• Being an Executor, from People's Law School, outlines the steps involved in probating the will. It includes a checklist of tasks for the executor after probate.
• About Wills and Estates, from the provincial government, has basic information about what the Probate Registry does, and information about estates and the executor's role.
• LSLAP Manual: Wills and Estates, from the UBC Law Students' Legal Advice Program, has a section on probating a will and distributing the estate.

tags

estates, executor, role of the executor, probate, probating a will