Choosing an executor is a challenging yet necessary decision you must make when preparing your will. Your executor will be responsible for making important decisions on your behalf when you pass away.
In this article, we will cover the basics you need to know before choosing an executor so you can feel confident in your decision.
What Is An Executor Of A Will?
An executor of an estate is the person who will help execute the wishes outlined in your will, distribute funds to your beneficiaries, and can act on behalf of your business and financial interests when you die. This person is typically a relative or friend - for example, a spouse or sibling.
The executor (female ‘executrix’) is the person or people appointed by the testator to administer (or ‘execute’ that’s where the word comes from) their will, to ensure their final wishes are fulfilled. In Quebec, this person is called the ‘Liquidator’.
Your executor can also be a beneficiary! Learn more here →
Why Do I Need To Name An Executor For My Estate?
It’s important to name an executor because they will be the person in charge of taking care of your estate. If you do not choose one before you die, the courts will be in charge of appointing an administrator to execute your wishes, and this person may not be someone you would have wanted to act in this role.
Responsibilities of your executor include paying off estate debts, recovering money owed, paying your final tax return, distributing assets and gifts to your beneficiaries, and more.
We dive more into their duties later in the article. Jump there now ↓
It can be time-consuming and stressful so it’s important to choose the right person or people. Be sure to name a contingent or backup executor in case the first one you name is unable to fulfill the role for any reason.
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How Does An Executor Differ From An Estate Trustee?
An executor and an Estate Trustee are two different roles, but the same person can fulfill them (on Willful, you select one person to fulfill both roles). The difference is that executors take care of the entire estate administration process, and once that is completed (typically in 12-18 months), their role concludes.
If you have minor children when you pass away, Willful wills trigger the creation of what’s called a testamentary trust, which holds assets in trust until the age at which you stipulate in your will (for example you may choose for the child to receive their inheritance when they turn 18, 21, or 25 on Willful).
Your trustee manages that trust (filing tax returns, releasing funds for the child's care to their guardian, etc.). In their role as trustee, they would only handle the trust (assets that are being held for legatees), and work with legatees named in that trust. While the liquidator’s role ends as soon as the estate administration process is complete, a trustee may act in that role for a much longer period of time.
Learn more about the difference between executors and trustees →
Can I choose two different people to act as executor and estate trustee?
At this time, Willful only provides the option to appoint one person to act in the role of both executor and estate trustee.
How Do I Choose My Executor?
Here are some important things to consider when selecting an executor for your will.
Choose an executor who is comfortable with the responsibility
Being an executor can be a stressful role, especially under the circumstances. They must be an organized and level headed person, able to make critical decisions during a potentially stressful time.
Choose an executor who will be available
Is your executor available to take on this role? Choosing someone who is available both physically in terms of location, and mentally is essential. A person who loves to travel or lives off the grid may not be the best person to pick.
Choose an executor you trust
Although the plan you outline in your will is legally-binding, it’s still important to choose someone that you believe will execute your wishes and represent you well after you’re gone.
Choose an executor who is likely to be alive
Morbid - we know - but choosing someone who is expected to be alive and in good health after you’re no longer around will avoid any headaches for your family down the road.
Review your executor regularly
Like the rest of your will, you should review and update your choice for executor as life happens. Monumental moments such as the birth or adoption of a child, moving to a new home, or divorce may trigger you to make changes to your will and to review your chosen executor.
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What Qualities Should I Look For In An Executor?
Honesty – Although the Will provides direction, a dishonest person can still find considerable latitude with the truth and may misinterpret your intention in ways they find most convenient or beneficial.
Ethical – An ethical person will do the right thing even when they can get away with doing the wrong thing. They have a moral compass that guides them when there are no other rules or guidelines.
Organized – Being an executor involves a lot of paperwork, documentation, dates and follow-up. A disorganized executor is most likely to get into trouble with creditors, heirs or other third parties who may choose to litigate.
Available – Being an executor is like having a part time job for one to three years and even longer in some cases. They must have time available. When thinking about who to appoint, consider where they spend their time now. Will they have to give up coaching soccer or teaching piano?
Financially Literate – Estates have become a lot more complicated in recent years and while the successful executor can outsource some of their duties, such as the estate tax returns, they should know a little about assets, debts and the basics of taxation.
Impartial – Executors are tasked to ‘act with an even hand’, meaning they treat people equally and fairly. This doesn’t mean contravening the Will, but rather that in following the Will they use good judgment and all the heirs feel they were treated fairly.
Diligent – When executing a Will, as in anything, things don’t always go smoothly and follow-up and persistence are necessary. Your executor needs to be diligent in holding people accountable for the things they need to do.
Good Communication – The surest way into a courtroom is failing to communicate effectively and timely with all parties affected by the estate. Left unchecked and uninformed, emotions can get out of hand very quickly.
Cool-Headed – When everyone else is losing their minds, the executor needs to keep theirs! The cool-headed executor can calm people down, share the facts, and get to the bottom of the matter promptly and effectively.
Strong-Willed – Sometimes, people try to get away with things they shouldn’t, such as making up debts owed, or forgetting assets that were borrowed and never returned. A strong-willed executor will hold all parties to account.
If you or a loved one identifies as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, there may be some additional considerations when choosing an executor, like making sure that your executor understands and agrees with your lived identity. You can read more about these considerations in our article “2SLGBTQIA+ Considerations For Estate Planning”.
Can I Appoint More Than One Executor In My Will?
Yes, you can appoint more than one executor in your will. When you appoint more than one person in the role of executor, each person takes on the role of co-executor.
Co-executors
Co-executors are a great option if you want to appoint multiple executors. For example, maybe you have two people you want to share the position with, like two adult children.
When choosing co-executors, it’s important to make sure that your executors get along and are clear on your wishes. With co-executors, both individuals must agree to everything throughout the estate administration process.
If you appoint co-executors, and they are unable to agree on how to mange your estate, their only recourse is going to court. So it’s best to make sure that if you choose two executors, that they are willing and able to work together.
One of the best ways to avoid this is to speak to your executors in advance and make your wishes known – this way, everything is clear when the time comes.
With Willful, you can select up to two executors in your will as co-executors in the Executor section.
You can also appoint backup executors. Your initial choices may be unable or unwilling to perform in this role, so it’s important to have someone else who can step into this role if needed.
Professional Executors
In some situations, you can also appoint a professional executor in tandem with a family member.
A professional executor can be a trust company, an individual, or a financial institution – they specialize in closing up estates. You can appoint a professional executor if you don’t have a family member who you feel would handle this job well.
Willful does not currently support being able to appoint a professional executor at this time. But your chosen executor can also hire a professional executor to help after you pass away if they need support in the process.
Inform Your Executor
Lastly, it’s important to remember to sit down with your chosen executor to make sure they are willing to take on the role, go over the essential responsibilities and to inform them where they can find the most recent copy of your will and other information they may need to settle your affairs.
You should also register your will on Canada Will Registry to ensure your executor knows where it is - so if they forget, or you forget to tell them, your executor can perform a search to find out exactly where it’s located. Willful provides free will registration with each plan purchase.
What Are The Duties Of An Executor?
Being someone’s executor can be a big responsibility.
Some responsibilities and duties of an executor include:
- Organizing your funeral and burial wishes and covering the costs with your estate or a funeral insurance payout
- Paying off estate debts
- Recovering outstanding debts owed to the estate (best done through NoticeConnect to save on costs)
- Distributing assets to beneficiaries
- Communicate with heirs and beneficiaries
If you are unexpectedly named an executor of an estate, and you are unable or unwilling to take on the responsibility, you can always choose to not accept the role. However, if someone lets you know that they would like to name you as their executor, it’s important to let them know if you are uncomfortable with the role sooner rather than later, so they can choose someone else!
If you know you’ve been named an executor of someone’s estate, it’s usually helpful to speak with them to ensure you understand their wishes as well as know where you can find a copy of their will!
Learn More About The Duties And Responsibilities Of A Executor
How much does an executor get paid in Canada?
Executors fees, which are paid as compensation to an executor for their work managing and settling an estate, are generally paid out of the estate itself as fixed amounts, percentages of estate value, or charges for services rendered. How executors get paid depends on the legislation of the province they are in.
In Ontario, executor fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the estate's total value, and in BC this value cannot exceed 5% of the estate.
Can An Executor Change A Will?
No, an executor cannot change a will after you've passed away. It is their duty to act in the best interest of the estate and carry out the wishes you have expressed in your will. If a beneficiary believes that an executor is not following your intentions or are making mistakes, they have a right to take legal action to ensure that your intentions are followed.
Learn more about the consequences of executor misconduct →
Is There Any Personal Risk When Acting As An Executor?
Acting as an executor carries considerable personal risk. In fact, there are up to 18 areas with supporting case law where executors can be sued personally. In Ontario, executors can be fined up to three percent of the entire estate and if they’re found to have benefitted from making a mistake, (such as if they’re also an heir), they can be put in jail for up to two years.
One way to mitigate that risk is to obtain executor liability insurance, though most people don’t know it exists, leave it too long to apply and get turned down, or find that arguments over who should pay the premium is the first family fight. The best way to protect executors is to get a guaranteed issue, paid up policy.
Resources For Executors
Fortunately there are now a lot more resources available to help make the executor’s job easier. We’ve already identified a number of them throughout this article. Be sure when talking to your executor to direct them to this site to get answers to these important questions and to make sure they have their own Wills in place.
If they’re still having problems they can also talk with a Certified Executor Advisor (CEA) in their area, by searching the national directory.
