Executor Checklist: Duties After a Death
An executor locates the will, files it with the probate court, and is formally appointed. Then the executor notifies heirs, creditors and agencies, inventories and protects assets, opens an estate bank account, pays valid debts and taxes, including the final income tax return, and distributes what remains as the will or state law directs. Keep detailed records of every step.
Serving as an executor is a legal responsibility. This checklist follows the usual order of tasks; the details depend on your state's probate rules.
Download the printable checklist (PDF): free, one or two pages, made to print and fill in by hand.
First weeks
- ☐ Order several certified copies of the death certificate
- ☐ Locate the original will and any trust documents
- ☐ Secure the home, vehicles and valuables
- ☐ Notify Social Security and other benefit payers
- ☐ Forward mail and keep paying essential bills such as insurance
Probate and appointment
- ☐ File the will and a petition with the probate court
- ☐ Get court papers appointing you (often called letters testamentary)
- ☐ Get an employer identification number (EIN) for the estate
- ☐ Open an estate bank account
- ☐ Notify heirs and beneficiaries as required
Assets and debts
- ☐ Inventory all assets and get date-of-death values
- ☐ Notify banks, insurers and retirement plan administrators
- ☐ Give notice to creditors as your state requires
- ☐ Review claims and pay valid debts from estate funds
- ☐ Do not pay heirs before debts and taxes are handled
Taxes
- ☐ File the deceased person's final income tax return
- ☐ File estate income tax returns if required
- ☐ Check whether a federal or state estate tax return is due
Closing the estate
- ☐ Prepare an accounting of money in and out
- ☐ Distribute assets to beneficiaries and get receipts
- ☐ Ask the court to close the estate and discharge you
Tips
- Never mix estate money with your own.
- Small estates may qualify for a simplified process; check your state's small estate affidavit rules.
Official resources
- IRS: Filing a final federal tax return for someone who has died
- IRS: Estate tax
- IRS: Gifts and inheritances
- IRS: Get an employer identification number
This checklist is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a legal form. Rules and deadlines vary by state; a licensed attorney can tell you what applies to your situation. Find a lawyer near you.
Sources
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This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws differ by state and change over time; talk to a licensed attorney in your state about your situation.