General Executor Checklist
Show Table of ContentsServing as the executor of an estate can be a challenging responsibility, and require significant effort over time: the average executor spends 570 hours fulling his or her duties, over a period of 16 months.
This web page is part of the overall state-specific EstateExec Executor Guide, which is designed to help executors understand those duties and how to fulfill them, including probate. In fact, EstateExec can automatically create a customized interactive checklist in accordance with the particulars of the estate (see Sample Estate). For example, an executor has 9 months from the date of death to submit Federal Form 706 if the estate exceeds a certain size, FL has restrictions on executors who do not reside in-state, NJ has specific inheritance tax filing requirements, etc.
And at the simplest level, the following generic checklist covers the basic responsibilities of an executor:
| Estate Executor Checklist | ||
|---|---|---|
| Done | Task | Due |
| Notify close friends & family | First Week | |
| Notify employer | First Week | |
| Secure assets | First Week | |
| Arrange funeral | First Week | |
| Locate the will | First Week | |
| Order death certificates | First Week | |
| Notify Veterans Affairs if applicable | First Week | |
| Optionally retain lawyer | First Month | |
| Submit will to court | First Month | |
| Protect unoccupied property | First Month | |
| Cancel unneeded services | First Month | |
| Notify Social Security | First Month | |
| Determine heirs | First 3 Months | |
| Start probate process if required/desired | First 3 Months | |
| Notify heirs | First 3 Months | |
| Establish family allowance if applicable | First 3 Months | |
| Forward mail | First 3 Months | |
| Notify life insurance companies | First 3 Months | |
| Notify IRAs and similar beneficiary accounts | First 3 Months | |
| Notify credit cards | First 3 Months | |
| Notify other agencies (DMV, etc.) | First 3 Months | |
| Notify extended acquaintances | First 3 Months | |
| Consider online media accounts | First 3 Months | |
| Request Employer Identification Number (EIN) | First 3 Months | |
| Open estate bank account | First 3 Months | |
| Inventory assets | First 3 Months | |
| Deal with any firearms | First 3 Months | |
| Start ancillary probate (if applicable) | First 3 Months | |
| Publish notice of death | First 3 Months | |
| Debt claims deadline expired | As Possible | |
| Inventory debts | As Possible | |
| Determine estate solvency | As Possible | |
| Plan asset allocation | As Possible | |
| Conduct estate sale (if desired) | As Possible | |
| All debts resolved | As Possible | |
| Dispose of unwanted assets | As Possible | |
| Pay local property taxes | Calendar Year | |
| Provide Schedule K-1 to any trust beneficiaries | Tax Notice Year | |
| Submit final decedent income tax forms (1040) | Tax Year | |
| Submit estate income tax forms (1041) | Tax Year | |
| Deal with state filings | Tax Year | |
| Submit personal liability discharge (5495) | Tax Year | |
| Submit estate tax form (706) if needed | 9 Months | |
| Submit federal heir forms (8971) if needed | 10 Months | |
| Request estate tax closing letter (627) if needed | 10 Months | |
| Receive federal estate tax closing letter (627) if needed | 15 Months | |
| Receive any other needed government closing letters | Finish | |
| Make all distributions | Finish | |
| Compensate executor | Finish | |
| Submit probate final accounting | Finish | |
| Submit probate closing statement | Finish | |
| Close estate bank account | Finish | |
| File Final IRS Form 56 | Finish | |
Note that this generic checklist is useful, but is not intended to be an exhaustive list, and some of the due dates may vary a bit from state to state.
Note that if you are using the EstateExec interactive task checklist, you will be able to click on each task and get more information about it, as well as see actual due dates for your particular estate: see the Track Tasks topic, or create your own estate for free. Of course, the majority of EstateExec's long-term utility also lies in its ability to track and manage assets, debts, transactions, and distributions, not to mention money-saving ($) coupons for applicable third-party services, such as junk removal.