Executor

An executor is the person you name in your will to carry it out. After you die, they gather your papers, deal with banks and funds, and make sure each asset reaches the right person. An executor acts on the will’s instructions, not their own preferences.

What an executor actually does

The executor is the practical hands behind the will. They locate the will and the asset papers, inform banks, fund houses, insurers and employers, settle any outstanding dues or taxes from the estate, and then distribute each asset to the heir the will names. It is an administrative, fiduciary role: they manage and hand over, they do not get to change who gets what.

Who to choose

Pick someone you trust, who is organised, likely to outlive you, and who will know where your documents are. Many people name a spouse, an adult child or a close relative; you can name more than one, and it helps to name a backup. Crucially, tell the person you have chosen them and where the will is kept, because an executor who does not know they exist cannot act.

Executor and probate

An executor can apply for probate, a court’s confirmation of the will, to get formal authority, though it is no longer compulsory in India. For money held with a nominee, the process is often simpler still. See writing a will.