What an Executor Actually Does

Most people underestimate how much work an executor takes on. This role can require 12–18 months of active management through the probate process. Responsibilities include:

Qualities to Look for in an Executor

The best executor isn't necessarily the person you're closest to — it's the person best equipped to handle the job. Look for:

• Organized and detail-oriented. Managing court deadlines, creditor notices, tax filings, and asset inventories requires someone who won't let things slip through the cracks.
• Financially literate. They don't need to be a CPA — but they should be comfortable reading financial statements, dealing with banks, and understanding basic tax concepts.
• Trustworthy and impartial. If your executor is also a beneficiary, there's inherent tension. They must be able to act in the estate's best interest, not their own.
• Available and local. Probate requires in-person appearances, document signings, and property management. An executor who lives across the country faces real logistical challenges.
• Calm under pressure. Grieving family members may disagree, creditors may push back, and courts move slowly. Your executor needs to stay steady through all of it.

Executor vs. Successor Trustee — What's the Difference?

If you have a revocable living trust, your successor trustee handles the distribution of trust assets — without probate. Your executor handles anything that falls outside the trust through the probate process.

You can name the same person as both executor and successor trustee, or different people depending on the skills and availability of those you trust.

Can You Name a Professional Executor?

Yes — and for some estates, it makes sense. Banks, trust companies, and estate attorneys can serve as professional executors. Reasons to consider a professional:

• Your estate is large or complex — multiple properties, a business, significant investments
• Family dynamics make impartiality difficult — contested relationships or potential disputes
• No family member or friend is truly equipped for the responsibility
• You want to remove the burden from loved ones who are already grieving

Professional executors charge a fee — typically 1–3% of the estate value — but that cost is often worth the expertise and neutrality they bring.

Common Mistakes

• Naming the oldest child by default. Birth order doesn't determine capability. Choose the most qualified person regardless of age or family hierarchy.
• Not naming a backup executor. If your named executor predeceases you, is incapacitated, or declines the role, the court appoints someone — which may not be who you'd choose.
• Never telling your executor they've been named. Your executor should know their role, where your documents are, and what your estate looks like before they ever need to act.
• Naming co-executors without thinking it through. Two executors must agree on every decision. If they disagree, the estate stalls. Co-executors only work when the relationship is truly cooperative.
• Choosing someone who lives out of state. While not disqualifying, an out-of-state executor faces extra hurdles — some states require local bond or representation. Factor geography into your decision.

Real-Life Example