Many people are familiar with the concept of being named the Estate Trustee (formerly known as an Executor) of an estate, but few are aware of the various statutory and common law obligations that come along with this responsibility. The Estate Trustee is the representative designated to carry out the terms of a Last Will and Testament and is tasked with winding up the affairs of the deceased, paying taxes and bills and distributing the residue of the estate to those entitled. One of the fundamental obligations of an Estate Trustee is to identify and protect the assets of the deceased’s estate. Careful consideration should be given as to who is tasked with this role.