• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Workshop
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • What to Expect When Working with Us
  • Services
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • Medicaid Planning & Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Young Families Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Elder Law
        • In-Home Elder Care
        • Medicaid
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate and Gift Tax
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Taxes on Inheritances in Vermont
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Inheritance Planning for Minor Children
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Philanthropy and Estate Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Revocable Living Trust
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • SECURE Act
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars/Seminars
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of an Executor?

What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of an Executor?

August 11, 2022 by Stephen Unsworth

Essex Junction estate planning attorney

When you create your Last Will and Testament you will have to make several decisions. Although you may not realize it, one of the most important of those is the appointment of your Executor. To help you better understand why you should choose your Executor carefully, an Essex Junction estate planning attorney at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC explains the duties and responsibilities of an Executor.

Executor Duties and Responsibilities

While an Executor may have additional duties and responsibilities during the probate of an estate, some of those common to the probate process for most estates include:

  • Initiating the Probate Process.  As soon after your death as possible, your Executor must locate an original copy of your Will as well as obtain several certified copies of your death certificate. Both of those documents, along with a petition to open the probate of your estate, must be submitted to the appropriate probate court to get the probate process started. Unless your estate is small enough to qualify for an alternative to formal probate, your Executor will likely retain the services of an experienced estate planning attorney to help at this point; however, your Executor will remain responsible for overseeing the probate of your estate. 
  • Managing Estate Assets.  Your Executor must identify and locate all estate assets. All assets, however, are not required to go through the probate process. Consequently, your Executor must review all assets and decide which ones are probate assets and which are non-probate assets. Common examples of non-probate assets include assets held by a trust, proceeds of an insurance policy, and certain types of jointly held property. Your Executor is also responsible for securing and managing all estate assets throughout the probate of the estate. Securing assets might include things such as:
    • Taking possession of vehicles
    • Locking up real estate
    • Speaking to employees at a business and arranging for continued operations.
    • Closing out financial accounts
  • Notifying Creditors and Paying Estate Claims. Next, your Executor is required to notify all creditors of the estate that probate is underway. Known creditors may be contacted personally; however, notice must also be given to unknown creditors. This is accomplished by publishing a notice of probate in a local newspaper. Creditors then have a statutory period within which they must file claims against the estate. Your Executor must review all claims and approve or deny each one. Approved claims must then be paid out of estate assets. If your estate lacks sufficient liquid assets to pay all creditors, your Executor must decide which assets to sell to raise the needed funds. If the estate lacks sufficient assets to pay all creditors, creditors are paid according to priority.
  • Defending the Estate.  Sometimes, someone files a challenge to your Will, alleging that the Will is invalid for one reason or another. If that happens, your Executor is required to defend the Will throughout the ensuing litigation. Your Executor may also be required to represent your estate if a creditor appeals a denial of claim. Although your Executor will undoubtedly hire an attorney to represent your estate if the estate does become involved in litigation, your Executor remains responsible for the overall outcome.
  • Calculating and Paying Estate Taxes.  Every estate is potentially subject to federal gift and estate taxes as well as state taxes if applicable.  Your Executor is responsible for calculating, preparing, filing, and paying (if applicable) all state and federal taxes. This can be a cumbersome job that often requires the assistance of additional professionals.
  • Transferring Ownership and Distributing Assets.  At the end of the probate process, your Executor’s last duties include filing a final inventory with the probate court, if required to do so, and effectuating the legal transfer of the remaining estate assets to the intended beneficiaries and/or heirs of the estate.

Contact an Essex Junction Estate Planning Attorneys

For more information, please attend one of our upcoming FREE webinars. If you have questions or concerns about who to appoint as your Executor, contact an experienced Essex Junction estate planning attorney at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC by calling 802-879-7133 to schedule your appointment today.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen A. Unsworth is admitted to practice in both Vermont and Maine, and has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning and business law. His mission is to provide quality estate planning services, including assistance with Living Trusts, Wills, Medicaid Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Planning, and Family Limited Partnerships.
Stephen Unsworth
Latest posts by Stephen Unsworth (see all)
  • It’s a Great Time to Consider a Donor Advised Fund - December 1, 2023
  • What Happens to My Debts When I Pass Away? - November 30, 2023
  • Why Medicare May Not Be Enough - November 21, 2023

Filed Under: General

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Vermont caregiver resources
Vermont Caregiver Resources
Debts pass away
What Happens to My Debts When I Pass Away?
Estate planning without children
Estate Planning Tips for Adults Without Children
Estate planning tips
10 Estate Planning Tips to Help Your Plan Succeed
Trust administration Vermont
What Is Involved in Trust Administration in Vermont?
Estate plan components
5 Essential Estate Plan Components

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

Sign up to Unsworth LaPlante's estate planning blog to receive all the latest news and updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.