Definition

Noun: 1. A person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of the will: An executor is an individual or institution named in a person's will and legally authorized to manage the deceased person's estate, pay debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries as specified in the will.

Usage

The word "executor" is used in the context of law, inheritance, and estate planning. It refers to the specific role and legal responsibility granted to a person after someone's death. The role is often formalized by a court through a document called "Letters Testamentary."

Examples

• The lawyer helped her write her will and choose a trusted friend as the executor.
• As the named executor, his first duty was to locate the original will and file it with the probate court.
• The executor is responsible for ensuring all the deceased's outstanding bills are paid before distributing the inheritance.

Advanced Usage

• Executor of an estate: This is a common full phrase specifying the role.
  • She was appointed the executor of the estate and had to manage the sale of the property.
• Literary executor: A specific type of executor responsible for managing the unpublished works and literary legacy of a deceased writer or artist.
  • The poet's daughter acted as his literary executor, deciding which unpublished poems should be released.

Variants and Related Words

• Executrix (noun, archaic): A female executor. This term is now less commonly used, with "executor" often applied regardless of gender.
• Execute (verb): To carry out or put into effect. This is the root verb from which "executor" is derived.
• Execution (noun): The act of carrying out or performing a plan, order, or legal document.

Synonyms

• Administrator: A person appointed by a court to manage an estate when there is no will or no named executor. While similar, "administrator" is not a direct synonym as it applies to a different legal circumstance.
• Personal representative: A broader legal term that can encompass both an executor (named in a will) and an administrator (appointed by the court).

Related Phrases

• To act as executor: To perform the duties of an executor.
  • He agreed to act as executor for his elderly aunt.
• To name someone as executor: To designate someone as the executor in a will.
  • It is important to carefully consider whom you name as executor in your will.

Noun

1. a person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of the will