The executor is someone you nominate to deal directly with your estate; they pay your debts and divides what remains of your estate among the “beneficiaries”, the people named in your Will that will receive a share of your estate. Being an executor is a very serious responsibility and can take a lot of work and speaking generally they should;   answer to the beneficiaries for the management of the estate and account for the property (including all money) of the deceased. organise your funeral and burial, as well as make any decisions about your personal belongings and property. deal with your finances, such as paying your debts, closing your bank accounts and doing your taxes in the year of your death, and the year following your death for your estate. Finally, if there are children under 18, their well-being must be looked after.   You should always consider choosing an executor that you trust and who is likely to still be alive when you die. They can be a trusted family member or friend. It helps if he or she is also a good book-keeper and an efficient communicator. If you prefer, you can appoint more than one executor and both can act together as co-executors. You should also appoint an alternate executor if the first executor isn’t able to act. If you have a complex estate or investments or need someone to take over the operation of a company, you should name a professional executor like a trust company.