What is the legal term for someone appointed to execute a will's instructions?

An executor is the individual appointed to carry out the instructions laid out in a will. This role involves managing the deceased's estate, ensuring that debts are settled, assets are distributed according to the terms of the will, and any necessary legal processes are followed. The executor is responsible for upholding the testator's wishes as expressed in the will and is often granted authority by the probate court to do so.

The testator refers to the person who created the will, so this term identifies the individual who has made the legal arrangement for their estate after passing. A beneficiary, on the other hand, is someone who will receive assets or benefits from the estate under the terms of the will. Finally, a legatee is a specific type of beneficiary, traditionally someone who is bequeathed tangible personal property in the will. While beneficiary and legatee relate to the distribution of the estate, they do not imply responsibility for executing the will's provisions.