The executor’s task list
These are the steps most executors handle when settling an estate. The order isn’t rigid — some tasks happen in parallel, some can wait — but this is the rough sequence and the things you don’t want to forget.
First week
- Order certified copies of the death certificateYou'll need certified copies of the death certificate for nearly everything else — banks, insurers, the court, the Social Security Administration.
- Secure the home and personal propertyLock up. Change locks if needed. Forward mail. The estate is responsible for what's in the home from now on.
Documents
- Locate the will and any trust documentsFind the original will. Photocopies are not the same as originals, and the original is what gets filed with the court.
- Inventory the estate's assets and debtsYou're personally responsible for an accurate accounting. Most courts require a formal inventory; even when they don't, you need one to administer the estate.
- Manage digital accounts and online presenceEmail, social media, photo libraries, password managers, crypto, subscriptions. Each platform has its own death-of-user process.
Court & filings
- File the probate petition with the courtIf the estate requires probate, you'll file a petition with the appropriate court in the county where the decedent lived.
- Notify creditors and handle claimsMost states require formal notice to known creditors and a published notice to unknown creditors. There's a window for claims, then it closes.
- Get Letters TestamentaryLetters Testamentary are the court document that proves you're the legal executor. You'll need them to do almost anything financial.
Money & accounts
- Notify the Social Security AdministrationIf the decedent was receiving Social Security, the funeral home usually reports the death. Confirm — and stop benefits to avoid clawbacks.
- Notify banks, brokerages, and retirement accountsEach financial institution has its own death notification process. Some assets pass to a beneficiary directly; others must go through probate.
- Open an estate bank accountYou'll need a dedicated account in the estate's name to receive incoming funds and pay debts. Don't commingle with personal money.
- File the decedent's final income tax returnThe final 1040 covers January 1 through the date of death. The estate may also need its own tax return (Form 1041) if it has income during administration.
- Claim life insurance proceedsLife insurance with a named beneficiary passes outside probate. The named beneficiary files a claim directly with the carrier.
- Pay valid debts and reject improper claimsEstate debts are paid from estate assets — not from your money. Pay valid claims in the order your state's law requires.
- Cancel credit cards and recurring subscriptionsCredit cards and subscriptions don't stop on their own. Cancel them with documentation so future charges don't reopen the estate.
Property
- Maintain or prepare to sell real estateAn empty house keeps costing money — taxes, insurance, utilities, upkeep. Decide early whether you're keeping it, renting it, or selling it.
- Clear out the home and distribute personal propertyGoing through a parent's home is the single most emotionally draining task most executors face. Pace yourself. Don't throw anything away in the first week.
- Transfer or sell vehiclesEach state's DMV has its own process for transferring a vehicle from a deceased owner. Some allow transfer outside probate up to a value threshold.
Wrapping up
- Distribute remaining assets to beneficiariesOnce debts, taxes, and expenses are paid, what remains goes to the people named in the will (or to heirs by law if there's no will).
- Close the estate with the courtThe court formally discharges you as executor when the final accounting is approved and all distributions are documented.