• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
< class="site-title" itemprop="headline">Flood & Masiuk LLC | Southampton Estate Planning Attorneys

Attorneys At Law

  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • About The American Academy
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Speaker Connection
  • Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection and Business Planning
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning Services
    • Trust Administration and Probate
  • Elder Law
    • Are You A Caregiver?
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Resources
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder Law Reports
    • Estate Planning Resources
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Needs Checklist
      • Estate Planning Reports
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Legacy Wealth Planning FAQ’s
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning FAQs
      • Trust Administration & Probate FAQs
    • LGBTQ Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Special Needs Resources
    • Trust Administration & Probate Resources
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss of a Loved One
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Home / Probate / What Is an Executor?

What Is an Executor?

June 2, 2015 by Marianne Flood, Estate Planning Attorney

What Is an Executor?If you use a last will to record your final wishes regarding the inheritances that your loved ones will be receiving, you nominate someone to handle the estate administration tasks after you die. This person is called the executor.

The estate executor has a number of different real world responsibilities. It is not just a ceremonial honor that you bestow upon someone that you love and respect.

You may imagine the executor reading a will after the funeral, and the idea would be that the executor can start distributing assets right away. In fact, this is not the case. The first order of business for the executor will be to admit the will to probate.

During probate, a court must supervise the administration of the estate, so the executor should ideally have some understanding of the probate process.

All of the assets that comprise the estate must be rounded up by the executor, and final debts must be paid during probate, so the executor must notify creditors.

The executor will ultimately prepare the property for distribution to the heirs in accordance with the wishes of the decedent. Depending on the circumstances, appraisals and liquidation of property may be necessary.

In addition to all of these tasks, the executor is going to be the point of contact for anyone who has an interest in the estate. Because of this, the ideal executor will be a good communicator who can patiently interact with family members and others.

Choosing the Right Executor

When you digest all of the above, you can see that the executor should be a business minded individual who has experience handling somewhat complicated financial situations.

Longevity also enters the equation. Will the person that you nominate be around to administer the estate after your passing?

Thirdly, this can be a demanding position, so you should make sure that the person that you are going to nominate is willing to take on the responsibility.

Geography is another factor. You probably do not want to nominate an executor who lives hundreds of miles away from you.

If you do not know anyone who has all of the above qualities, you could potentially use a professional entity such as a trust company.

Free Estate Administration Report

To learn more about estate administration, download our in-depth report. This special report is being offered free of charge at the present time, and you can access your copy right here on this website.

Click this link to obtain access: Estate Administration Report.

Schedule a Consultation

If you would like to discuss your estate plan with a licensed professional, send us a message through our contact page to set up a free consultation: Southampton PA Estate Planning Attorneys.

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Marianne Flood, Estate Planning Attorney
Marianne Flood, Estate Planning Attorney
As the founder and managing partner of the Southampton, Pennsylvania law firm of Flood & Masiuk, LLC, Marianne Flood oversees a practice devoted to providing clients with personalized service and counsel in all aspects of estate planning.
Marianne Flood, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Marianne Flood, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • What Is a Qualified Personal Residence Trust? - July 24, 2015
  • Will Medicaid Take My Home? - July 22, 2015
  • 2015 Estate Tax Exclusion Adjustment Released By IRS - July 18, 2015

Filed Under: Probate

About Marianne Flood, Estate Planning Attorney

As the founder and managing partner of the Southampton, Pennsylvania law firm of Flood & Masiuk, LLC, Marianne Flood oversees a practice devoted to providing clients with personalized service and counsel in all aspects of estate planning.

Primary Sidebar

Blog Subscription

Flood & Masiuk LLC | Southampton Estate Planning Attorneys

112 Lakeside Park
Southampton, PA 18966
Phone: (215) 322-6330
Fax: (215) 322-9199

MAP

map for Flood & Masiuk LLC office

Opening Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Footer

  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.

All Rights Reserved.
Attorney Advertisement

footer-logo
  • fb
  • twitter
  • linked-In