First steps
Information on the type of tasks you'll need to perform if you are appointed an executor of a will, and what happens if you choose not to be the executor.
Common tasks
As an executor, some of the first things you might do include:
- finding out what's involved with being an executor
- finding the will
- deciding whether to accept the role
- contacting beneficiaries
- get legal advice if there is no information in the will about who will take care of any pets.
An executor can apply to the NSW Supreme Court for compensation for the time and effort involved with administering an estate.
If you choose not to be the executor
If you want to renounce the role of executor, it is better to do this as early as possible, and before you apply for a grant of probate or start collecting assets.
In some situations, an executor is not able to act. For complete information on what happens when an executor is not able to act, see LawAccess NSW.