Which statement about an executor is accurate?

Which statement about an executor is accurate?

• A. The executor is the person named to execute the terms of a will after death.
• B. The executor is appointed by the court.
• C. The executor handles day-to-day investment decisions for the estate.
• D. The executor processes probate only in contested cases.

Answer: (C)

An executor is the person named in a will to carry out its instructions after death. Their main task is to administer the estate in line with the will: identify and gather assets, pay any debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries as specified. Probate is the legal process to validate the will and give the executor authority to act; if no executor is named or the named person can’t serve, a court appoints someone to fill the role. The day-to-day investment management of estate assets isn’t the defining duty of an executor; while they oversee the estate’s finances and may seek professional investment advice, actual investment decisions are usually handled with guidance from professionals and in line with prudent and fiduciary standards. Probate occurs whether or not a will is contested, so it’s not limited to contested cases.

An executor is the person named in a will to carry out its instructions after death. Their main task is to administer the estate in line with the will: identify and gather assets, pay any debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries as specified. Probate is the legal process to validate the will and give the executor authority to act; if no executor is named or the named person can’t serve, a court appoints someone to fill the role. The day-to-day investment management of estate assets isn’t the defining duty of an executor; while they oversee the estate’s finances and may seek professional investment advice, actual investment decisions are usually handled with guidance from professionals and in line with prudent and fiduciary standards. Probate occurs whether or not a will is contested, so it’s not limited to contested cases.