For the person in charge

Executor duties

Being named executor is a serious responsibility. You'll be managing someone else's finances, working with the court, and answering to beneficiaries — often while grieving. These guides explain what the role actually involves, how long it takes, what you get paid, and how to handle the trickier situations that come up along the way.

What Does an Executor of a Will Actually Do? Duties, Timeline & Checklist

Exactly what an executor does, your legal duties and responsibilities, a phase-by-phase timeline, and a checklist to stay on track.

10 min readUpdated March 2026
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