Who is responsible for carrying out the provisions of a deceased person's will?

The individual responsible for carrying out the provisions of a deceased person's will is the executor. This role is defined by the will itself, as the executor is named within it by the deceased. The executor has a fiduciary duty to ensure that the deceased's wishes, as outlined in the will, are fulfilled. This includes managing the estate's assets, settling any debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries in accordance with the will.

An executor often has the authority to take necessary actions such as selling property, accessing bank accounts, and other tasks that facilitate the proper management of the estate. This responsibility requires them to act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries, adhering to the legal requirements of the probate process.

Other roles such as heirs and beneficiaries have interests in the estate but do not have the same legal responsibilities or authority to manage the estate's affairs. An administrator, on the other hand, is appointed when a person dies without a will (intestate) or if the executor is unable or unwilling to serve. Each of these positions has distinct responsibilities, but the executor is specifically tasked with executing the terms of the will.