The Typical Duties an Executor Must Carry Out

As an estate executor, it will be your job to locate and inform heirs that an Ohio resident has died and has transferred assets to them. However, you will have several other tasks that you need to carry out as the representative of a deceased person’s estate. Take a look at some of the specific duties that you need to carry out.

You’ll Need to Start the Probate Case

As the executor named in a will, it is your job to present it to the judge in the county where a probate proceeding will take place. Probate can occur either whether the person died or where a person owned property. This typically depends on what type of assets an individual had and how much they were worth. Upon receiving the will, the judge will likely allow you to start taking actions on the deceased person’s behalf.

Be Sure to Close Accounts

At the time of an individual’s death, he or she may have had magazine subscriptions, a line of credit or a savings account at the local bank. This person may also have been the recipient of Social Security or other benefits. As the estate’s representative, you are responsible for closing these accounts as quickly as possible. You may need to contact the government or an individual’s former employer to put a stop to benefit or pension payments.

Creditors Will Need to Be Notified of the Death

A notice will need to be published in a newspaper publicizing the fact that a death has occurred. This will give creditors time to make a claim against the estate if they so desire. A public notice may also give beneficiaries not named in a will a chance to make a claim against the estate.

If assets are held in an individual’s name when he or she passes, those assets will likely be subject to probate. As the estate representative, you may be able to hire a probate attorney to help ensure that debts are paid and assets are transferred in a timely manner.