What are the duties of an executor?

An executor is responsible for overseeing the administration of a deceased person’s estate. In California, the individual named as executor in the will has the legal authority to handle the estate. The executor’s duties include locating and collecting the assets of the deceased, paying the debts and taxes, filing necessary court documents, and distributing assets according to the will. In order to begin the probate process in California, the executor must file the original will with the court and a petition to open probate. This step will provide an official date of death, after which the executor is legally responsible to administer the estate. The executor’s main priority is to ensure that all debts and costs of the estate are paid, such as any outstanding taxes, funeral expenses, and the costs for processing the will. Along with this, the executor must manage the deceased’s personal property, such as cars and homes, until it is distributed to the appropriate recipients. At the end of the probate process, the executor will prepare a final accounting of all expenses and will present it to the court for approval. Once the accounting is accepted, the executor may distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries. After the distribution of assets, the executor must file a final declaration showing that the estate has been closed. In California, the executor of an estate must manage the deceased’s estate in an honest, transparent, and orderly manner. It is a complex job, with many legal and financial responsibilities, but the executor must see it through until the end of the probate process.

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