June 1, 2026
An executor settles the estate after someone dies, but most people aren't ready for what the job actually takes. Learn duties, timelines, and whether you get paid.
Three weeks after her dad died, Ashley sat at the kitchen table with a legal document she barely understood, a stack of papers from her attorney, and a yellow notepad full of account names.
The attorney had been helpful. He filed the will, opened probate, and explained the legal process. He was handling his part.
But nobody was handling the other part.
Ashley had a mountain of accounts to close or update. Utilities, subscriptions, bank accounts, social media profiles and no idea where to start. Her attorney's advice? "You'll need to contact each company directly."
That's what being an executor actually looks like for most people.
An executor is a person legally appointed to settle a deceased person's estate according to their will. The executor's job includes paying outstanding debts, closing accounts, notifying agencies, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. The role typically spans 6 to 18 months.
If a will exists, the executor is usually named in it. If there's no will, or the named executor can't serve, a court appoints someone instead.
Once appointed by the probate court, the executor receives a document called "Letters Testamentary." This is your legal proof of authority. Banks, government agencies, and creditors will ask to see it. You can't do much without it.
The executor's title varies by state. In California, Texas, Florida, and others, the same role is called a "personal representative." The duties are identical, just a different name.
The core responsibility: make sure the deceased's wishes are carried out, debts are paid, and beneficiaries receive what they're owed. Every task flows from that.
An executor is named in a will. An administrator is appointed by a court when there's no valid will or when the named executor can't or won't serve.
Both roles do the same job. The difference is how they got there and what guides their decisions.
An executor follows the will's instructions. An administrator follows state law, which has a set priority order for who inherits: typically spouse first, then children, then parents, then siblings.
If you've been appointed as administrator, your job is equally complex, sometimes more so, because you may need to locate and notify relatives who have potential inheritance rights under state law.
For simplicity, this article uses "executor" throughout. Everything here applies equally to administrators.
There are two distinct types of executor work. One type your probate attorney helps with. The other lands entirely on you.
These are the tasks most people associate with settling an estate. Your attorney guides you through most of them:
- Open probate: File the will with the probate court and officially start the process
- Obtain Letters Testamentary: This document is your legal authority.
- Inventory estate assets: Document everything: real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investment accounts, personal property
- Notify creditors: Publish notice to creditors and respond to valid claims
- Pay valid debts: Settle balances from estate funds before distributing anything to heirs
- File the final tax return: Your CPA handles the deceased's last personal income tax return and any estate tax filings
- Distribute assets to beneficiaries: Only after debts and taxes are settled
- Close the estate: File a final accounting with the probate court to officially end your duties
Your attorney handles most of the legal paperwork above and you'll be looped in from an oversight standpoint. The administrative coordination is what you handle on your own.
In our research, very few attorneys are willing to do the adminstrative work. When you charge $400 an hour, its just not worth their clients money to call the utility companies, cancel the Netflix account, cose the Facebook profile, notify Medicare and stop the gym membership.
Nobody handles those tasks but you unless you hire someone specifically to help with that piece.
The average estate has dozens of accounts, subscriptions, and memberships that need to be closed, cancelled, or transferred. Each one requires a phone call, a death certificate, some hold time, and re-explaining why you're calling.
This is what the administrative phase looks like in practice:
Federal and state agencies keep paying benefits, maintaining active records, and sometimes billing the estate until formally notified. Missing these steps creates overpayment issues and delays estate closure.
Social Security Administration (SSA) The funeral home typically notifies SSA of the death directly; you do not need to do this separately. However, you must file on your own for any survivor benefits and check whether the estate qualifies for the one-time lump-sum death payment of up to $255 ([Form SSA-8](https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-8.html))
Medicare Cancel Part A, B, and D coverage and resolve outstanding claims; uncancelled coverage creates billing complications
Veterans Affairs (VA) Stop pension or disability payments to prevent overpayments; a surviving spouse may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), which requires a separate application
State DMV Cancel the driver's license to prevent identity fraud; transfer or cancel vehicle registrations
Voter registration Cancel with the county registrar to remove the name from active voter rolls
U.S. Postal Service Forward mail to the executor's address so estate correspondence doesn't pile up unread
IRS The estate may need to file an estate income tax return ([Form 1041](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1041)) in addition to the deceased's final personal return; your CPA handles this, but the executor coordinates it
The deceased's personal information stays active in databases for months after death. Without proactive steps, the estate is exposed to identity theft, credit fraud, and a stream of junk mail that doesn't stop on its own.
Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion: Place a deceased alert at all three credit bureaus; this blocks new accounts from being opened in the deceased's name
Direct Marketing Association (DMA): Submit a deceased registration to stop the name from being sold to marketing lists; reduces junk mail within a few months
Data brokers: Services like Spokeo, WhitePages, and BeenVerified hold personal data worth removing to limit fraud exposure and solicitation
Do Not Call Registry: Remove the deceased's phone number to stop telemarketers from contacting the estate
Why this matters: Utilities keep billing until cancelled. If the property sits empty during estate administration, an uncancelled account can add hundreds of dollars in unnecessary charges before you notice it.
- Electric: Contact the utility to stop service or transfer the account; a death certificate is usually required
- Gas and propane: Cancel or transfer service; schedule a final meter reading
- Water and sewage: Cancel or transfer; the process varies by municipality and can be slow
- Internet and cable: Providers often make cancellation difficult; be prepared to return equipment in person or by mail
- Mobile phone service: Cancel the deceased's mobile plan; the phone number can sometimes be retained temporarily during estate administration
- Trash collection: Cancel residential pickup if the property will be empty for an extended period
- Home services: Cancel landscaping, HVAC maintenance contracts, pest control, cleaning services, and any other recurring home service subscriptions
Subscriptions bill monthly or annually until cancelled. And you might be wondering, why I don't I just cancel the credit card? This may work in some circumstances but it may not be the simplest route for others, often creating more drama. Freqently there are important items linkd eto credit cards like utilities, landscaping services, perscriptions, car insurance, or other important items. We typically recommend trying to get your hands on 3 months of statements to audit for recurring charges. Once you've done that, you can feel confident cancelling out accounts and saving hundreds of dollars without creating future headaches.
- Streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and similar services require direct account access or customer service contact with a death certificate
- Apps and software: Cloud storage (Google One, Dropbox), productivity software (Adobe, Microsoft 365), and professional tools often bill annually
- News and magazines: Digital and print subscriptions; annual ones are easy to miss because they don't charge every month
- Gym and fitness memberships: Many gyms require written notice plus a death certificate and may charge a cancellation fee even after death
- Shopping and delivery: Amazon Prime, Costco, meal kit services, and grocery delivery subscriptions
- Loyalty and rewards programs: Airline miles and hotel points can sometimes be transferred to heirs; check each program's policy before cancelling
- Professional memberships: Trade associations, professional organizations, and industry groups often charge annual dues
Active accounts get targeted by scammers and can be used in memorial fraud schemes. Closing or memorializing them protects the family and prevents the deceased's identity from being exploited.
- Facebook and Instagram (Meta):- You can close the account entirely or memorialize it; memorialized accounts remain visible as a tribute page, but no one can log in
- Twitter/X: Requires submitting a verified death certificate; the account can be deactivated through their support process
- LinkedIn: Professional profiles should be closed to prevent job scam targeting under the deceased's name
- Reddit: Account closure is available through Reddit's support team
- Snapchat: Submit a verified death certificate through their support portal to close the account
There's no single national deadline. Most states require executors to act with "reasonable diligence" which courts interpret based on the estate's complexity. Just be sure to follow any state specific deadlines for things like filing the will with the court.
In practice, here's what to expect:
- Simple estates:(few accounts, no disputes, no real property): 6 to 9 months
- Average estates: (a house, multiple accounts, one or two beneficiaries): 9 to 18 months
- Complex estates: (multiple properties, business interests, IRS involvement, beneficiary disputes): 2 to 3 years
Many states reference an "executor's year" which is the idea that 12 months from appointment is a reasonable benchmark for completing most estate work. Some states formalize this as a soft deadline.
The administrative phase such as closing accounts and sending notifications typically takes 3 to 6 months when handled solo. With professional help, most of it can be wrapped up in 4 to 8 weeks.
Yes. Executors are legally entitled to reasonable compensation from estate funds. You're not required to do this work for free.
Most states set executor compensation as a percentage of the estate's value, typically 2 to 5%, though exact amounts are set by state law. For a $300,000 estate, that's roughly $6,000 to $15,000.
StateTypical Executor FeeNew York5% on first $100K; decreases to 2% above $5MCalifornia4% on first $100K; decreases to 0.5% above $25MTexas, Florida"Reasonable compensation" set by the courtPennsylvaniaApproximately 3 to 5% based on complexity
Family members often waive executor fees, especially when they're also beneficiaries, because executor compensation is taxable income, while an inheritance typically is not. But you are entitled to it, and for large or complex estates, it's worth discussing with your attorney.
Out-of-pocket expenses are always reimbursable, regardless of whether you take a fee. Keep receipts for every expense related to estate administration.
What you can do:
- Access and manage estate accounts once you have Letters Testamentary
- Pay estate debts from estate funds
- Sell estate property (with court approval in most states)
- Hire professionals -- attorneys, CPAs, executor assistance services -- and pay them from estate funds
- Distribute assets to beneficiaries after debts and taxes are settled
What you cannot do:
- Change the will or alter who inherits what
- Distribute assets before debts and taxes are resolved
- Act before receiving Letters Testamentary -- you have no legal authority until then
- Make decisions on behalf of beneficiaries or heirs
- Override a valid creditor claim
One important note: hiring help is allowed, and that help can be paid from estate funds. Executor assistance services, probate attorneys, and CPAs are all legitimate administrative expenses -- meaning the cost comes from the estate, not your personal pocket.
Most new executors expect the legal part to be complicated. They don't expect what comes after.
Tom became executor of his mom's estate in February. His attorney was competent and the legal side was moving along. But two months in, Tom had closed only 10 of the 65 accounts on his list.
He'd spent an estimated 20 hours on hold. He'd explained his mother's death to strangers more times than he could count. And he was still finding subscription charges from services he hadn't tracked down yet.
"I thought the hard part was the legal paperwork," he said. "Nobody told me about all the phone calls."
This is the pattern. The legal work has professional support. The administrative coordination that covers the dozens of closures, notifications, and cancellations, lands on the executor with no infrastructure to help.
There are four types of professionals involved in estate settlement:
- Probate attorney for Legal work: will filing, court proceedings, legal disputes, legal advice
- CPA or accountant for Tax work: final personal return, estate tax return, any trust filings
- Financial advisor for Investment accounts: transfers, beneficiary designations, retirement account rollovers
- Executor assistance service for estate Administrative support: covers more than 70+ closures and notifications that fall outside everyone else's scope
An executor assistance service handles the administrative work that falls outside legal probate. Utilities, subscriptions, government records, social media, employer notifications, credit bureau alerts. They contact the companies, submit death certificates, and work through each closure so you don't have to repeat your loved one's story over and over again.
AnnCare does this work for a flat rate of $699 with no hourly billing, no percentage of the estate. Most executors save 80 hours working with us. The fee is typically payable from estate funds as a standard administrative expense.
Learn how AnnCare works or schedule a free 30-minute consultation to walk through your specific situation.
The executor manages the estate process -- paying debts, closing accounts, filing paperwork, distributing assets. A beneficiary is someone who inherits from the estate. One person can be both executor and beneficiary at the same time, which is common when a spouse or adult child is named.
No. The will decides who gets what. The executor's job is to carry out those instructions, not to make new decisions about inheritance. If there's no will, state law determines the distribution and the executor follows that framework.
Yes. Executors are legally required to notify all beneficiaries named in the will, and in some states, potential heirs who aren't named but have legal standing. State law sets the timeline, but 30 to 60 days from appointment is typical.
Yes. Being named in a will doesn't obligate you. You can decline -- called "renouncing" the appointment -- and the court will appoint someone else. If you've already started acting as executor, declining becomes more complicated, but it's still possible in most states.
You'll need: certified death certificates (order 10 to 15 copies from the funeral home), Letters Testamentary from the probate court, a copy of the will, and 12 months of the deceased's bank and credit card statements. The statements help you identify every active account and subscription.
The executor's role ends when the probate court closes the estate. That requires filing a final accounting -- a summary of all assets received, debts paid, and distributions made -- and having the court approve it. Until that approval comes through, your duties are ongoing.
The first two weeks are mostly about documentation and establishing legal authority. Here's where to focus:
The legal phase takes time and isn't fully in your control. The administrative phase is where proactive action saves you the most hours.
Get a free consultation today and see how we can lift the burden for families.
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