What is the role of an executor in a will?

The role of an executor in a will is to oversee the distribution of assets according to the instructions set forth in the will. This involves several responsibilities, including managing the estate’s affairs after the testator's death, ensuring that debts and taxes are settled, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the will.

The executor serves as a fiduciary, meaning they must act in the best interest of the estate and its beneficiaries, adhering closely to the terms of the will. This role is crucial to ensuring that the wishes of the deceased are honored and that the process of settling the estate is conducted in a fair and orderly manner.

Other options present different functions that do not fit the executor’s duties. For instance, managing the assets of a trust pertains to a trustee, not an executor, and creating a will is the responsibility of the testator, not an executor. Representing the estate in court may be a function of the executor in certain situations, but it does not encapsulate the primary duty, which is overseeing asset distribution.