Also called a “personal representative,” the executor is the individual that handles settling the estate of a deceased person. They typically file probate for the estate and they are responsible for:
Settling the debts and other financial obligations of the estate
Paying any applicable estate taxes out of the estate’s funds
Ensuring that all remaining assets are distributed to the estate’s rightful beneficiaries
Personal representatives are sometimes named in the decedent’s will or—if there is no will in place or no executor named in the will—the probate judge may appoint an individual to serve as the estate’s personal representative.