Executor

Also known as: Executrix, Personal Representative

In one sentence

The person appointed to carry out the instructions in a will.

Plain English

An executor is the person you name in your will to handle your estate after you die. Their job includes locating your assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing what's left to your beneficiaries according to your wishes. Executors work with the probate court to ensure everything is done legally and properly. The female equivalent is called an executrix, though "executor" is now used for any gender.

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Example

Maria named her sister as executor in her will. After Maria's death, her sister gathered all her bank accounts and property, paid final bills, and distributed the remaining assets to Maria's children.

Used in a sentence

“The executor filed the will with the probate court and began the process of settling the estate.”

Related terms

Administrator

A person appointed by the court to manage an estate when there is no will.

Probate Estate

Property owned by a deceased person that passes through the court-supervised probate process.

Testamentary Trust

A trust created within a will that takes effect after the person dies.

Bequest

A gift of personal property left to someone in a will.

Devise

A gift of real property, such as land or a house, made through a will.

Probate

The court process of validating a will and distributing a deceased person's estate.

Intestate Succession

The legal process of distributing a deceased person's property when they leave no valid will.

Elective Share

A surviving spouse's right to claim a portion of the deceased spouse's estate despite the will.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.