Free Guide
I'm an Executor. Where Do I Start?
Answer a few quick questions about the estate, and we'll build you a free, tailored checklist — no account required.
First, a Few Quick Questions
This helps confirm you have the authority to act, and flags anything worth knowing before you start.
What Being an Executor Actually Involves
An executor is legally responsible for filing the will with the court, protecting assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing what remains. It's part project manager, part record-keeper, part point of contact for a long list of institutions who all need to be told the same thing separately.
One important note on money: executors are usually entitled to reasonable compensation for this work — either a percentage set by state law, or a "reasonable fee" standard. Many people waive it for close family, but that should be a choice, not an assumption. Read more in our full guide for executors.
🔒 A note on account numbers and balances
This checklist never asks for account numbers, balances, or other sensitive financial details — and we recommend you never enter that information into any online tool. Instead, use our offline worksheet: fill it in on your own computer, and it never touches our servers.
⬇ Download Offline Worksheet (Excel)📋 Prefer paper?
Download the printable Executor Organizer — the same checklist as above, plus an action log, a document tracker, a contacts sheet, and a creditor claims tracker. Print it, put it in a binder, and keep it with your paperwork.
⬇ Download Executor Organizer (Word)Tell Us What Applies
Check everything that's true — nothing is saved or sent anywhere until you click Generate.